Thousands of Ways

She delivers her musings with a warm and kind voice, skilled musicianship, and genuine appreciation for the world around her.
Parent's Choice Foundation

Violinist, vocalist and storyteller Susan Reed has crafted a wide-ranging career that includes multiple nationally renowned books and recordings for children. Constantly composing, this album celebrates a year of that writing: reflecting on life, love, the pandemic, politics, and of death and dying. Forming an inspired band to realize these works, Susan's links to jazz, classical, fiddle and klezmer music provides fertile ground for guitarist Craig Wagner, bassist David Friesen and drummer Steve Barnes' orchestrations. Thousands of Ways' mix of instrumentals and songs range from the joyful "Flying My Kite" and "Ribbons in the Wind," to the subtle soundscape of "Desert Flower" or the tabla driven funk of "Cat Got Your Tongue."

Production Info:

Produced by Susan Reed
Recorded by Matt Hayes
at Wellspring Sound, Acton, MA
August 4-6, 2021
Mixed by Huck Bennert, Saco, ME
Mastered by Mark Donahue, Jamaica Plain, MA
Photos by Alena Kazub
Cover design & layout by John Bishop

Reviews of Thousands of Ways

Jazz Weekly (George W Harris)
Susan Reed serves as a double threat, swinging on violin and singing with a folkish allure with her team of Craig Wagner/g, David Friesen/b and Steve Barnes. On vocals, the team comes across at times like a jazzy Fairport Convention, pretty on the pizzicato'd "Flying My Kite", bluesy and dark as she pants out "Cat Got Your Tongue" and swinging with ...

Take Effect (Tom Haugen)
The violinist, vocalist and storyteller Susan Reed has enjoyed a diverse and exceptional career, and here she reflects on life, love, the pandemic and politics with help from Craig Wagner's guitar, David Friesen's bass and Stever Barnes' drums. "Flying My Kite" starts the listen with warmly plucked strings, as Reed's comforting and eloquent voi ...