Ray Reed

The Ray Reed Quintet: Once Upon a Reed

by Ken Hohman
July 6, 2004

Originally recorded in 1999 and not released until this year, Once Upon A Reed is a renaissance effort by West Coast alto saxophonist Ray Reed. At once a homage to the brighter side of '50s hard bop (think Pacific Jazz, Hi Fi or Savoy labels versus the deeper grooves of Blue Note) and a showcase for new compositions by Reed, these songs manage to swing in the modern tradition without drifting into mimicry. This is due in large part to ...