Wharton Arts Celebrates Legendary Bassist Rufus Reid
PHOTO: Rufus Reid by Christopher Drukker
Jazz Giant Rufus Reid, 80, of Teaneck, not only helped build the Jazz Studies program at William Paterson University (WPU) in Wayne into one of the most renowned jazz education programs in the world, but was the go-to bassist/composer in the bands of other legends: from trombonist JJ Johnson and tenor saxophonist Stan Getz to pianist Kenny Barron and trumpeter Art Farmer.
Wharton Arts, in Berkeley Heights, is the state’s largest independent performing arts education center serving nearly 2,000 students. On March 7, at the Westmount Country Club in Woodland Park, Reid will receive the Wharton Arts Lifetime Achievement Award along with George Marriner Maull, who will receive the Wharton Arts Education Award for being the founding Music Director and Conductor of the New Jersey Youth Symphony from 1979 to 1997. Maull currently hosts Inside Music on WWFM 89.1 on The Classical Network in Princeton.
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Reid is no stranger to awards. Last year he was honored at the WPU’s 50th Anniversary. In 2022, he was the honoree at the South Orange Performing Arts Center’s “Giants of Jazz” concert. He told Jersey Jazz magazine in 2022 that “the future of jazz is in great hands, but there are many more players than opportunities where younger players can hone their skills…The really creative players will find a way. Some great players are coming out now who are serious and know their history so that’s encouraging.”
For tickets to the March 7 event or for more information, go to www.whartonartsgala.org.