Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Eugene Joseph Wright was born May 29, 1923 in Chicago, Illinois. Mostly self-taught but took a few lessons late in his career from Paul Gregory. He studied cornet in high school. He played with the Lonnie Simmons group and led his own 16-piece band, the Dukes of Swing in the Forties. He played with Gene Ammons, Count Basie, and Arnett Cobb in the late ’40s and early ’50s, then worked with Buddy DeFranco from 1952 to 1955, touring Europe with him.

He played in the Red Norvo trio in 1955, toured Australia with them, and was featured in a film short with Charlie Barnet. His biggest opportunity came when he was hired by pianist Dave Brubeck, remaining until 1968. He led his own ensemble on a tour of Black colleges in 1969 and 1970, then played with Monty Alexander’s trio from 1971 to 1974.

During the ’70s working in television studios found him film soundtrack work as well as play in clubs. He also did private teaching and became head of the advisory board in the jazz division of the International Society of Bassists, and head of the University of Cincinnati’s jazz department. 

Over the course of his lengthy career Wright has worked with Charlie Parker, Billie Holiday, Carmen McRae, Buddy DeFranco, Cal Tjader, Kai Winding, Sonny Stitt, Paul Desmond, Kenny Drew, Dottie Dodgion, Lee Shaw, Buddy Collette, Gerry Wiggins and Dorothy Donegan among others, participating on more than five dozen recordings, thirty-two of which were with Brubeck.

With the death of Brubeck on December 5, 2012, he became the last surviving member of the quartet. Cool and swing bassist Eugene Wright, who has recorded once as a leader, The Wright Groove, is presently still active on the jazz scene at age 96.

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