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Mike Reed
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"Reed can keep time, break down grooves, drive the bus, or paint pictures - sometimes
in the same piece - but his decisions are driven by what's best for the ensemble."
- Peter Margasak, Chicago Reader

Mike Reed is a musician, composer and presenter based in Chicago.

As a drummer, Reed has been part of the vibrant Chicago jazz and improvised music community since 1997. He has performed regularly with David Boykin, Nicole Mitchell, Jeff Parker, Axel Doerner, Josh Abrams, Jim Baker, Rob Mazurek and others. As a leader Reed has released two critically acclaimed albums by his cross-genre group The Treehouse Project, and, more recently, the debut recording of his quintet Loose Assembly and a record of improvised duets. He currently is a member of The David Boykin Expanse , Rob Mazurek’s Exploding Star Orchestra and Josh Berman Quartet.

For nearly a decade Reed has also established himself as a presenter of musical performances. In 2001 Reed founded the Emerging Improvisers Organization, a not-for-profit whose weekly series of jazz and improvised music has been lauded as one of the finest in the Midwest. In December 2005 Reed was named among the Chicagoans of the Year by The Chicago Tribune for his work as lead organizer of the Intonation Music Festival.
-People Places and Things: Proliferation People Places and Things: Proliferation (2008)
An exhilarating evocation of late-50s post-bop Chicago
"I don't know if I've enjoyed a jazz album more this year." - Chicago Reader
-Loose Assembly: Speed of Change Loose Assembly: Speed of Change (2008)
The much-anticipated follow-up to Last Year's Ghost
"A compelling album filled with myriad moods..." - All About Jazz
-Loose Assembly: Last Years Ghost Loose Assembly: Last Years Ghost (2007)
with Greg Ward, Jason Adasiewicz, Tomeka Reid and Josh Abrams.
"A brilliant debut..." - All About Jazz
"...a well-designed collection of hook-filled tunes and atmospheric interludes..." - Point of Departure
-In The Context Of In The Context Of (2006)
Duets with Jeff Parker, Nicole Mitchell and Jim Baker
"...a stunning and imaginative player" - All About Jazz
-New Jazz and Improvisation New Jazz and Improvisation (2003)
"...a refreshing and essential listen for anyone interested in a sound that could only come from one city." - All About Jazz
-The Picture Show The Picture Show (2002)
"Brilliant" (AMG)... a thoroughly unique blend of jazz ideology, indie rock attitude and roots music flavor

More information...

Chicago Reader profile

Mike Reed website