Frank Wright (9 July 1935 – 17 May 1990) was an American free jazz musician from Mississippi and Cleveland, Ohio, known for his frantic style of tenor saxophone.
Frank Wright | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 9, 1935 Grenada, Mississippi |
| Origin | Cleveland, Ohio |
| Died | May 17, 1990 |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Instrument(s) | Tenor Saxophone, vocals |
Wright was born in Grenada, Mississippi, but he grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, where his family moved as part of the Great Migration out of the South. More than 1.5 million African 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
- 1965: Frank Wright Trio (ESP Disk)
- 1967: Your Prayer (ESP Disk)
- 1969: One For John (BYG Actuel)
- 1970: Uhuru Na Umoja (America Records)
- 1972: Center of the World (Center of the World)
- 1973: Church Number Nine (Calumet)
- 1974: Unity
- 1977: Shouting the Blues (Sun)
- 1978: Kevin, My Dear Son (Sun Records (jazz))
- 1978: Last Polka in Nancy? (Center of the World)
- 1979: Stove Man, Love Is The Word' (Sandra)
- 1982: Eddie's Back In Town (Krona)
As sideman
with Cecil Taylor
with Albert Ayler
- Holy Ghost (Revenant)
with Sunny Murray
- Spiritual Infinity (unreleased) (Columbia)
with Noah Howard
- Space Dimension (America Records)
with Hans Dulfer
- El Saxofón (Catfish)
with Muhammad Ali
- Adieu Little Man (Center of the World)
with Alan Silva and Bobby Few
- Solos & Duets w/ Bobby Few (Sun Records (jazz))
with Georges Arvanitas
- Shouting The Blues (Sun Records (jazz))
with Marvin Peterson
- The Light (Baystate)
with Saheb Sarbib
- Aisha (CJR)
with Peter Brötzmann
- Alarm (FMP Records)
with Raphe Malik
- Last Set: Live at the 1369 Jazz Club (Boxholder)
with A. R. Penck
- Prayer for Ingo (Mara)
- Concert in Ulm (Mara)
- 3 x 2 = X (Music Corporation)
References
- ^ Wilmer, Val (1977). As Serious As Your Life: The Story of the New Jazz. Quartet. p. 282. ISBN 0-7043-3164-0.