Benny Reid

Benny Reid (born October 7, 1980) is a jazz saxophonist. Reid grew up in Westfield, New Jersey, in a household where he was exposed to the music of John Coltrane and Miles Davis.He traveled to New York City to hear Sonny Rollins and Phil Woods and occasionally participated in jams at Smalls and the Blue Note.Reid began writing music when he was fourteen. His high school teacher was Andy Fusco, saxophonist with the Buddy Rich band.He cited as his biggest influences Stan Getz, Joe Henderson, and Paul Desmond.He graduated from the music program at Indiana University where he studied under Tom Walsh.He also studied with Eric Alexander, Mike LeDonne, Chris Potter, and Dick Oatts. After graduating, he moved to New York City and started his own band 2002.He released his first album, Findings, in 2007 on Concord Records.His second album, Escaping Shadows, includes a cover version of "Always and Forever" by Pat Metheny.