Search - Eric Reed :: Happiness

True Happiness

06/12/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Happiness is indeed this new Eric Reed CD! Joyful music, the best sidemen in the business, beautiful improvs and swing, swing, swing. A big thank you to Mr. Reed's new label (Nagel-Heyer) for giving us a CD full of original compositions (but for one Ellington song - and how bad could that be?). For us fans of Mr. Reed's fresh and intelligent compositions, it was a long but well-rewarded wait. It's hard to pick a favorite, but the title cut and "Suite Sisters" (esp. "Black Beauty") are in the lead. Then again there are "Three Dances" and Reed's "Romantic Rag," a musical genre which Mr. Reed claims for a new generation and makes you wish Willie "The Lion" Smith were still around to battle it out with him. Well, you'll just have to decide for yourself. You will not regret picking this one up."

Eric Reed must be speaking from a truly personal experience!

corkycork | Detroit, MI | 06/10/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's so nice to finally hear some new original music by Eric Reed. He's really a gifted composer. I was beginning to wonder if he was going to record something again soon. This new thing is very different from most of the stuff that's out today and even a departure for Reed. My favorites are "Happiness", "Three Dances" and the 3 pieces in "Suite Sisters." The surprise cut, however, is "Someone Else's Love." When I first heard it, I thought that my CD changer had switched discs. Brother Reed has some new ingenious surprises for us."