Reed's Bass Drum performs music through the lens of the jazz tradition. Fueled by a genuine interest in innovation, their distinctive sound is created by baritone saxophone, bass and drums. While performing original compositions or jazz standards, Reed’s Bass Drum strives to provide a distinct vantage point from which to hear jazz music.
It is rare for Reed's Bass Drum to play a show without at least one member of the audience asking about Reed and his bass drum. The genesis of the band name is actually much simpler than most people assume. It is simply a play on the term reed, as in a reed instrument like saxophone or clarinet. The name is a list of the ensemble's instrumentaion, reeds (saxophone), bass and drums.
Jonah Parzen-Johnson is a New York based baritone saxophonist. Growing up on the South Side of Chicago, Jonah was surrounded by rich traditions
contributed from sources as varied as the AACM and Chicago Blues and Jazz scenes. Since moving to New York City Jonah has performed at venues including The Blue Note NYC, The Jazz Gallery, and Smalls Jazz Club, and with musicians such as Randy Brecker, Lenny Pickett, Jon Hendricks, Wallace Roney, Joe Lovano, Ralph Alessi, Kenny Werner and Brian Lynch.
Noah Garabedian began playing the acoustic bass in high school. In September of 2003 he entered the Ethnomusicology department at UCLA. Throughout his undergraduate years he won many scholarships including a John Coltrane National Scholarship in 2007. He participated in the Music Outreach program between UCLA and the Los Angeles Unified School District, and was also selected as a finalist for the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz graduate program. In Los Angeles he played with such musicians as Kenny Burrell, Stefon Harris, Benny Green, and Clayton Cameron. Noah has recently begun a Master’s in Music at NYU.
Aaron Ewing is a New York based drummer. He has performed with Brian Lynch, Joe Lovano, Kenny Werner, Ralph Alessi, and many others, in some of New York's most famous venues for jazz, including the Blue Note, Small's, and the 55 Bar. He has also performed internationally with artists such as Lenny Pickett, George Garzone, and Jean-Michel Pilc. Aaron grew up in Fort Smith, Arkansas. His talents have been recognized through scholarships and awards from the North Arkansas Jazz Society, the Fort Smith Riverfront Blues Society, and Music Fort Smith. In 2005, he was selected to perform with the Collegiate All-Star Jazz Ensemble at the IAJE South Central Regional Conference. Aaron recently completed an M.A. in Jazz Performance at New York University, where he also served on the faculty. He plans to continue teaching and performing throughout the New York area.
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