Rufus Reid

Live in Vienna features brilliant jazz bassist Rufus Reid alongside pianist Fritz Pauer and drummer John Hollenbeck recorded live at a venue called Porgy & Bess. The five selections come in at close to an hour and are beautifully filmed. Great shots of Pauer's hands on the piano give producer Barbara Weissenbeck's video a unique angle that is most inviting for those who appreciate these maestros working at their craft. "The music has to have a pulse...so people can come to you," Reid says in the too-short three-minute interview. The DVD includes an electronic three-page biography and one-page discography. Where a DVD like Ona Ma Sile from Polish pop group Varius Manx has hours of things to explore, this is brief and to the point. It's the music here that is exquisite, with real power on the almost nine-minute "Cherokee" and subtle inflections from each member of the trio on "Ode to Ray." The players get to stretch across the finale, "The Meddler," with lots of catchy improvisation. There are no frills here outside of the masterful musicianship, making for an excellent set of sounds. Wayne Darling is listed as musical director. ~ Joe Viglione, All Music Guide