Testimonials & Reviews

“Reid turns in a perfect set…”
James Adams
Edmonton Journal headline
“Your music and expertise were much appreciated.”
Claudia Shepherd
Alberta College of Art, Calgary
“Island Shuffle is a disc filled with pretty sounds, good playing, and decent material.”
Steve King
Edmonton Sun
“Island Shuffle is a disc filled with pretty sounds, good playing, and decent material.”
Richard B. Kamins
Island Shuffle CD review, Cadence Magazine (USA)
“Your performance received an impressive response from the audience and was a splendid addition to our winter season.”
Zoe Dille & Ahsan Hussain
Hart House, University of Toronto
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for helping make the Esso Terrace (Calgary) opening such a success.”
Whyte Rousseau Advertising Ltd.
“Thank you for the high quality music you provided for us, at this year’s Mountain Guides’ Ball.”
Mike & Joanne Hoden
“…listening to local saxophonist John Reid and his quartet rip through some hot jazz numbers.”
Craig MacInnis
Calgary Sun
“…music with Sun jazz writer, John Reid’s foursome was fabulous.”
Alex Tadich
Calgary Sun
“You don’t know us, but we love your group and the find musicians you are.”
Laurie & Clark W
“…a night of invigorating jazz.”
Emery Weal
SAIT student newspaper, Calgary
“…Reid…came off just fine.”
Alan Kellog
Edmonton Journal
“Sometime before Decidedly Jazz Danceworks first official live-music show (1988), Vicki Willis (founder) approached the local tenor-sax player (John Reid) about allowing her dancers to improvise in front of his ensemble during a jazz festival gig at Prince’s Island Park.”
Willis
Swerve Magazine
“Fue en el preámbulo de una jornada dedicada al jazz en Canadá, coauspiciada por la agencia Total Caribbean Experience, portadora del cuarteto de John Reid y de un trompetista de pura raza, el trinitario Nick “Brownman” Alí, quien alternó con El Greco.”
Granma
Cuba
“John Reid is one of those odd individuals who somehow manages to combine the often pretentious world of ‘serious’ art music with the often self-indulgent world of jazz, and survive well in both... solid performances which leave the listener well satisfied.”
Island Shuffle CD review
Edmonton Composers Concert Society journal
“Island Shuffle is very much an ensemble collection, a diverse and rewrding set of original compositions that’s distinguished as much by the engaging lead melodies as by the rhythmic support. Reid’s blues in particular stand out.”
Words and Music magazine
“Reid is a talented multi-instrumentalist heard on tenor and soprano saxophones and flute…keeping the solos melodic, concise and straight to the point. His tone is clear, warm and personable.”
Island Shuffle CD review
The Jazz Report
“…the CD’s 12 tracks are a well-played, far-reaching record of contemporary acoustic jazz.”
Don Adair, Spokane
Washington Spokesman-Review
“This CD is something Calgarians should be proud of.”
Philip Barker
Vox Magazine
“The Calgarian jazz man coaxes some especially nice sounds from his tenor — brash during Blues for Stuart, breathy in My Romance, and reminiscent of (Stan) Getz during the swirling Coral.”
Ross McLennan
Winnipeg Sun
“Local openers (for Mel Tormé at Jack Singer Concert Hall) the John Reid Quartet performed a fluid, melodic, muscular set that featured solid rhythmic foundations and the supple tonality of Reid’s sax and flute work.”
Richard Wagamese
Calgary Herald
Caravan…a superb self-titled CD.”
Mike Bell
Caravan CD review, Calgary Sun
“…in particular John Reid, a soloist whose fingers danced magnificently on both flute and sax, displayed a polish second to none among professionals.”
Wayne McDougall
Mt. Royal (College) Journal 3009
“…local reedman John Reid wandered onstage with his tenor and contributed a tough, exciting solo.”
Eugene Chadbourne
Calgary Herald
“John Reid played some good jazz sax.”
Carol Hogg
Calgary Herald
“…Reid gave an adapted rendition of the Beatles’ tune Norwegian Wood that was a highlight of the concert”.
The Gauntlet
University of Calgary