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BackRobert Redd
Biography
Robert Redd, born and raised in the Washington, D.C. area, began playing the trumpet at the age of 12, and began performing professionally while still in high school. While continuing to perform and study the trumpet, he began to develop a serious interest in the piano and decided to make the switch at age 23. He re-established himself as a piano player and shortly after found himself very much in demand.Mr. Redd was a member of the Keter Betts trio for 13 years, until Betts’ death in 2005. The trio performed many concerts and festivals and could frequently be heard at venues such as the Kennedy Center and Blues Alley. They performed regularly throughout the school year at Wolf Trap as part of Early Learning Through the Arts, a program which Betts helped start and develop to present live music to young audiences. Mr. Redd is a member of the Wolf Trap Jazz Trio which continues to present this program.
From 1995-1998, Mr. Redd was pianist and musical director for singer/songwriter Kenny Rankin. While touring with Rankin, he performed with Michael Moore, Oscar Castro-Neves, Roy McCurdy, and John B. Williams among others. They appeared regularly at venues in New York City such as The Rainbow and Stars and The Bottom Line, and performed in the guest artist series with the U.S. Air Force Band at DAR-Constitution Hall, in Washington, D.C.
Mr. Redd worked as a member of the Charlie Byrd Trio and can be heard on Charlie Byrd’s last recording, For Louis. Other recent recordings include Bouquet Chorale (Summit Records) featuring Marty Nau and legendary saxophonist Phil Woods, and When Redd is Blue, co-led with his brother Chuck Redd. Mr. Redd is also a QRS recording artist and has recorded two Pianomation CDs with fellow pianist Mike T. Jones for the New York-based company.
Mr. Redd teaches and performs every year during Swing Week at the Augusta Festival at Davis & Elkins College in Elkins, West Virginia. He is also a featured artist every year at the W.C. Handy Music Festival in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.
As a free-lance musician, Mr. Redd has performed with Bud Shank, Houston Person, Warren Vache, Ann Savoy, Ethel Ennis, Melba Moore, Mundell Lowe, Scott Hamilton, Ken Peplowski, James Moody, John Pizzerelli, The Harry James Big Band, The Artie Shaw Big Band (w/Dick Johnson), and the Duke Ellington Orchestra, to name a few. He performs frequently with the Smithsonian Masterworks Organization and is often featured at Blues Alley, where he co-leads a group with his brother Chuck Redd. Recent performances included a private concert in the East Room at the White House for the President, First Lady, and their guests on Valentine’s Day.
Watch Past Performances
12/25/2018: All-Star Christmas Day Jazz Jam
Join in the 20th annual All-Star Christmas Day Jazz Jam, a Millennium Stage tradition, with host/vibraphonist Chuck Redd, drummer Lenny Robinson, trumpeters Robert Redd and Tom Williams, bassist James King, and vocalist Delores King Williams.
6/12/2018: DC Jazz Festival: Chuck Redd and Robert Redd
Chuck Redd and Robert Redd will perform a selection of jazz classics, American popular standards, bossa nova, and original compositions.
12/25/2017: All-Star Christmas Day Jazz Jam
Join in the 19th annual All-Star Christmas Day Jazz Jam, a Millennium Stage tradition, with host/vibraphonist Chuck Redd, drummer Lenny Robinson, trumpeters Robert Redd and Tom Williams, bassist James King, and vocalist Delores King Williams.
12/25/2016: All-Star Christmas Day Jazz Jam
Join in the 18th annual All-Star Christmas Day Jazz Jam, a Millennium Stage tradition, with host/vibraphonist Chuck Redd, drummer Lenny Robinson, pianist Robert Redd, trumpeter Tom Williams, bassist James King, and vocalist Delores Williams.
12/25/2011: All-Star Christmas Day Jazz Jam
Celebrate this festive Millennium Stage tradition—now in its 13th year—with host and vibraphonist Chuck Redd, pianist Robert Redd, drummer Lenny Robinson, trumpeter Tom Williams, bassist James King, and vocalist Delores Williams.
