FM
Биография
Alto saxophonist / flutist / clarinetist and outstanding Downbeat award winner Leo Wright is one of the lesser-known voices of jazz, although he certainly gained a high degree of recognition as a sideman, particularly with DIZZY GILLESPIE, JACK McDUFF, OLIVER NELSON, LALO SCHIFRIN, JOHNNY COLES, KENNY BURRELL and at times with the Mingus group. With only rare few albums to his name, Wright was relegated to a secondary tier within the consciousness of jazzdom, and undeservedly so, probably because he worked extensively in Europe.
Leo Wright was born in 1933 in Wichita Falls/Texas. After studying alto-sax with his father and with jazzman John Hardee of Dallas, Wright began a professional career which took him swiftly into stellar company. Among early engagements were spells with bands led by CHARLES MINGUS and DIZZY GILLESPIE (1959-1962). With the latter he appeared at several major international festivals and made records including 'A Musical Safari'. During the early 60ies he worked and recorded with, among others, ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM, JIMMY WITHERSPOON, DAVE PIKE, BLUE MITCHELL, GILDO MAHONES, JEAN-LUC PONTY, FRANCY BOLAND and ELDEE YOUNG; in New York he was the leader of bop quartets and quintets, his sidemen included JUNIOR MANCE, ART DAVIS, CHARLIE PERSIP, RICHARD WILLIAMS, KENNY BURRELL, SLIDE HAMPTON, CARMELL JONES, LOU BENNETT and RON CARTER. In the middle of the decade he performed in Europe with GEORGE GRUNTZ and LEE KONITZ 's Alto Summit, recording with both. After settling in Berlin in 1964, he appeared at Jazz festivals in Germany, Switzerland and Finland and played with the studio band of Sender Freies Berlin and other groups. He later lived in Vienna and retired from music for a period from 1979. He returned again in 1986, recording an album of duets with his wife ELLY WRIGHT and performing with NAT ADDERLEY, GRACHAN MONCUR III and KENNY DREW in the PARIS REUNION BAND.
