Mike Reed
Mike Reed, born on May 26, 1974, in Bielefeld, Germany, is a multifaceted musician, composer, bandleader, and arts presenter who has become a dominant force in Chicago's diverse artistic community. Raised in Evanston, Illinois, Reed returned to Chicago in the 1990s after studying English and psychology at the University of Dayton in Ohio. Since 1997, Reed has been an integral part of Chicago's vibrant jazz and improvised music scene. He leads two acclaimed groups: Loose Assembly, an improvisation-heavy quintet, and People, Places & Things, a post-bop quartet that has collaborated with renowned musicians such as Ira Sullivan, Julian Priester, and Matthew Shipp. Reed's musical endeavors extend beyond these groups, including his work with the collective trio Artifacts alongside Nicole Mitchell and Tomeka Reid. Reed's talents have earned him significant recognition. He was named Chicagoan of the Year for Jazz in 2008 by the Chicago Tribune and was distinguished as a "Rising Jazz Star" in the 57th annual DownBeat critics poll. His group People, Places & Things was also named "Rising Jazz Group" in the same poll. As a composer and performer, Reed has worked with luminaries in the jazz and improvised music world, including Roscoe Mitchell, Wadada Leo Smith, and Fred Anderson. His musical journey has been marked by diverse collaborations and innovative projects, such as the expanded iteration of People, Places & Things called Flesh & Bone, which was inspired by Reed's personal experience during a race riot in the Czech Republic in 2009. Beyond his musical performances, Reed has made significant contributions as a producer and arts presenter. He served as Chairperson for the Chicago Jazz Festival Programming Committee and as vice chairman for the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) from 2009 to 2011. Reed co-founded and produced the internationally renowned Pitchfork Music Festival from 2006 to 2024. In April 2013, Reed opened Constellation, a performing arts venue in Chicago dedicated to presenting progressive performance and forward-thinking music, with a focus on jazz, improvisation, and contemporary classical. In 2016, he also became the owner of the Hungry Brain, a neighborhood tavern known for its live creative music and socially-driven public programs. Reed's contributions to the arts have been widely recognized. He is a 2016 United States Artist Fellow, supported by the Doris Duke Foundation, and received the 2019 Meier Achievement Award. In 2020, he was honored with the City of Chicago's Esteemed Artist Award. His international recognition culminated in 2022 when the French Ministry of Culture awarded him the insignia of Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Arts et Lettres (Knight of the Orders of Arts and Letters). Most recently, Reed released his latest album, "The Separatist Party," in 2023, on Astral Spirits/We Jazz. This album, featuring a collaboration with other creative figures from Chicago's experimental and improvised music community, explores themes of isolation and is the first installment of a three-album cycle. Throughout his career, Mike Reed has consistently demonstrated his ability to innovate, collaborate, and lead within the jazz and improvised music world, cementing his status as a key figure in Chicago's rich musical landscape.
