Frank Wright (jazz musician)

Frank Wright (9 July 1935 – 17 May 1990) was an American free jazz musician from Grenada, Mississippi, Memphis, Tennessee and Cleveland, Ohio, known for his frantic style of tenor saxophone.

Frank Wright
Born(1935-07-09)July 9, 1935
Grenada, Mississippi
OriginCleveland, Ohio
Died(1990-05-17)May 17, 1990
GenresJazz
InstrumentsTenor saxophone, vocals
Associated actsAlbert Ayler, Bobby Few

Biography

Wright was born in Grenada, Mississippi, but he grew up in Memphis, Tennessee. He began to play tenor sax in his late teens, when his family moved to Cleveland, Ohio as part of the Great Migration out of the South. More than 1.5 million black Americans left the South before World War II to seek opportunities in the industrial cities of the North and Midwest. Another 5.5 million left during and after the war, up to 1970.

In Cleveland, Wright met Bobby Few and Albert Ayler, both of whom became friends and musical influences. Originally a bass player, Wright played in numerous local R&B bands before taking up the saxophone. He also toured with B. B. King and Bobby "Blue" Bland.[1] Ayler's musical influence persuaded Wright to switch to saxophone; his style is often associated with Ayler's. In addition to tenor saxophone, he also played the soprano saxophone and bass clarinet. A pioneer of experimental music, Wright is a widely acclaimed artist among his colleagues in the free jazz movement.

Discography

As leader
  • Frank Wright Trio (ESP Disk, 1966)
  • Your Prayer (ESP Disk, 1967)
  • Uhuru na Umoja (America, 1970)
  • One for John (BYG, 1970)
  • Church Number Nine (Odeon, 1971)
  • Center of the World (Center of the World, 1972)
  • Last Polka in Nancy? (Center of the World, 1973)
  • Adieu Little Man (Center of the World, 1974)
  • Solos Duets (Center of the World, 1975)
  • Shouting the Blues with Georges Arvanitas (Sun, 1977)
  • Kevin, My Dear Son (Sun, 1979)
  • Stove Man, Love Is the Word (Sandra Music, 1979)
  • Eddie's Back in Town (Krona, 1982)
  • Unity (ESP Disk, 2006)
  • Blues for Albert Ayler (ESP Disk, 2012)

As sideman

References
  1. Wilmer, Val (1977). As Serious As Your Life: The Story of the New Jazz. Quartet. p. 282. ISBN 0-7043-3164-0.
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