Herman Wright

Herman Wright (1932 - 1997) was an American jazz double bassist.

born in Detroit, Michigan, he began on drums as a teen before ultimately settling on upright bass. He worked with Dorothy Ashby, Terry Gibbs,^[1] beat poet Allen Ginsberg,^[2] Yusef Lateef, George Shearing, Doug Watkins and on one occasion substituted Charles Mingus when the latter wanted to play piano.^[3] He can also be heard on Allen Ginsberg's Ginsberg Sings Blake.^[4]

In 1960, he moved to New York City, where he resided until his death in 1997.^[5]

He had three sons, Herman Wright Jr. (brass and woodwinds), Paris Wright (drums), and Dewayne Wright (piano).

Discography

As sideman

With Dorothy Ashby

• Hip Harp (Prestige, 1958)
• In a Minor Groove (New Jazz, 1958)
• Dorothy Ashby (Argo, 1961)
• Soft Winds (Jazzland, 1961)

With Chet Baker

• Smokin' with the Chet Baker Quintet (Prestige, 1965)
• Groovin' with the Chet Baker Quintet (Prestige, 1965)
• Comin' On with the Chet Baker Quintet (Prestige, 1965)
• Cool Burnin' with the Chet Baker Quintet (Prestige, 1965)
• Boppin' with the Chet Baker Quintet (Prestige, 1965)

With Allen Ginsberg

• Songs of Innocence and Experience (MGM, 1970)^[2]

With Al Grey

• Snap Your Fingers (Argo, 1962)
• Having a Ball (Argo, 1963)

With Yusef Lateef

• Cry! - Tender (New Jazz, 1959)
• The Three Faces of Yusef Lateef (Riverside, 1960)
• Into Something (New Jazz, 1961)
• The Golden Flute (Impulse!, 1966)

With Billy Mitchell

• This Is Billy Mitchell (Smash, 1962)
• A Little Juicy (Smash, 1963)

With Archie Shepp

• Lover Man (Timeless, 1989)

With Sonny Stitt

• Pow! (Prestige, 1965 [1967])

With Doug Watkins

• Soulnik (New Jazz, 1960)

References

1. Chell, Samuel (2007-10-23). "CD/LP Review: Terry Gibbs Quartet Featuring Terry Pollard". All About Jazz. Retrieved 2010-09-24.
2. Jurek, Thom (2017). "The Complete Songs of Innocence and Experience - Allen Ginsberg". AllMusic. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
3. Jenkins, Todd S. I know what I know: the music of Charles Mingus Greenwood Publishing Group, 2006 ISBN 0-275-98102-9 ISBN 978-0-275-98102-0 at Google Books
4. U of Pennsylvania
5. Feather, Leonard; Gitler, Ira (1999). "Wright, Herman Austin". The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 709.