Alto saxophonist Benny Reid is a forward-thinking jazz musician with a bent toward mixing expansive post-bop improvisation with atmospheric contemporary jazz composition. Born in Westfield, NJ, in 1980, Reid was encouraged to listen to jazz from a young age. His jazz aficionado parents introduced Reid to the music of such iconic artists as Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and others. Taking up the saxophone in the second grade, Reid played all through high school and eventually studied music at Indiana University, where he graduated in 2002. Reid released his solo debut, Findings, on Concord in 2007. Reid released his sophomore effort Escaping Shadows featuring nine original compositions and a cover of Pat Metheny's "Always and Forever" on Concord in 2009. ~ Matt Collar