12/12-Saturday :: Eric Reed Trio / Akie Bermiss

Web Site: Eric Reed

Award-winning pianist and composer Eric Scott Reed began playing the piano at age two and was performing in his father’s Baptist church in Philadelphia by age five. After study at Philadelphia's Settlement Music School and Los Angeles’ Colburn School of Arts, Reed embarked upon a professional career that has taken him all over the world. His credits include Wynton Marsalis, Jessye Norman, Quincy Jones, Patti Labelle and others. Reed has taught at The Juilliard School of Music and gives master classes and lecture demonstrations on the history of music. His other musical ventures include over 20 recordings as a leader, including his latest recording, Stand!, featuring original compositions and arrangements; scoring for Eddie Murphy’s comedy, Life; and musical direction for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Currently Reed is in residence with the Ebony Repertory Theatre of Los Angeles, as musical director of Regina Taylor's Crowns.

Web Site: Akie Bermiss

Akie is a pianist and singer who has been performing professionally since 2005. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he plays everything from jazz to blues to hiphop-and brings a signature fusion of them all to his own music. He has performed and/or recorded with Sam Morrison, Badal Roy, Peter O'Brien, Kenny Davis, Jon Bates, Greg Glassman, and Marvin 'Bugalu' Smith.