Eric Reed June 13, 2012

Pianist Eric Reed began playing gospel music at the age of 2 in his father's Baptist church. By the time he was 11 years old, he had fallen under the heady influence of the legendary jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal. Reed's first professional gig was at age 13, and by the time he was 18 he was appearing with trumpeter Wynton Marsalis. Reed performed with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra from 1996 to 1998 and over the years has made appearances with Benny Carter, Dave Ellis, Natalie Cole and Patti LaBelle.