The Asian American Jazz Trio was formed in the early 1990s as a unique collaborative ensemble dedicated to blending the American acoustic jazz idiom with East Asian musical influences. The group was anchored by the formidable rhythm section of drummer Akira Tana and acclaimed bassist Rufus Reid, a deeply connected duo who were already well-known at the time for co-leading the hard-bop quintet TanaReid. In this trio setting, Reid’s foundational, deeply swinging bass lines and Tana’s sensitive percussion work laid the groundwork for masterful pianists—first Kei Akagi, then Ted Lo. Together, they applied the rigorous improvisation of contemporary post-bop to non-Western source material, reinventing Chinese and Japanese folk and pop melodies with the same reverence usually reserved for the Great American Songbook.
During their active years, the trio recorded two standout albums, originally produced for the Japanese market on King Records, which were later released in the United States: Sound Circle (1992) and Moon Over the World (1993). Their work on these records highlighted a seamless cultural fusion, transforming everything from centuries-old Asian melodies to modern pop themes into driving, acoustic chamber jazz. Rufus Reid’s involvement was a crucial element of the group's success; his veteran musicianship, rich tone, and highly empathetic interplay provided the perfect harmonic anchor for the trio’s cross-cultural explorations. By sacrificing personal ego for collective expression, Reid and his bandmates cemented the Asian American Jazz Trio as an innovative and highly articulate voice in 1990s acoustic jazz.
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