Eugene Wright

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Eugene Wright was an American jazz bassist, born in Chicago in 1923. In high school he played cornet and in his twenties he led the sixteen-piece band the Dukes of Swing. On bass he was largely self-taught, until in his early thirties he took private lessons. His idol was Walter Page. He played with Count Basie, Erroll Garner, Billie Holiday and Charlie Parker, with bebop musicians such as Sonny Stitt and, in Latin jazz, with Cal Tjader. From 1952 to 1955 he worked with Buddy DeFranco, and in 1955 in the trio of Red Norvo.

Music and breakthrough

His best-known engagement began in 1958, when he joined the Dave Brubeck Quartet. Until 1968 he was part of the classic line-up with Paul Desmond and Joe Morello. He played on the standards Take Five and Blue Rondo à la Turk and recorded more than thirty albums with the group. Brubeck wrote that Wright's steady bass anchored the group, so that the others could play other time signatures and polyrhythms. In 1962 he sang and played in the jazz musical The Real Ambassadors, with vocals by Louis Armstrong and Carmen McRae.

Influence

Wright also became known for what he experienced. Some concert promoters did not want a Black musician next to the three white members, but Brubeck refused to perform without him. In 1960 Brubeck cancelled a tour of twenty-five universities in the South, because twenty-two schools would not admit Wright. Among jazz musicians he was known as The Senator. After his years with Brubeck he played from 1971 to 1974 in the trio of Monty Alexander. He died in 2020.

Listening

Discography

Studio albums

• 1981I Giganti Del Jazz Vol. 40
• ?The Wright Groove

In School of Rock

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• After Hours: Session 2^NL Reader