Michaels /Reed Jazz Duo

Baltimore's own Derrick Michaels and Jeff Reed form a compelling jazz duo where deep musical roots meet fearless exploration. Michaels' soulful, vocal-like tenor saxophone—described by DownBeat as possessing a "large sound and free-flowing style"—converses intimately with Reed's masterful acoustic and electric bass work, creating a dialogue that is both lyrical and adventurous.

Michaels, a bold voice in creative music, draws from jazz tradition while pushing boundaries with his expressive palette. Reed, one of Baltimore's most sought-after sidemen, brings world-tested versatility from collaborations with artists like Todd Marcus and Warren Wolf. Together, they craft performances that balance melodic sincerity with spontaneous invention—whether reimagining standards or debuting original works.

Both educators and bandleaders in their own right (Michaels with his resonant improvisational approach, Reed with his compositional depth and academic background), their partnership celebrates jazz as a living, evolving art form. The Baltimore Jazz Alliance put it best: "Derrick Michaels' saxophone playing comes right out of his soul"—and paired with Reed's rhythmic and harmonic depth, this duo delivers music that’s as emotionally rich as it is technically brilliant.