Born: July 9, 1935 Primary Instrument: Sax, tenor
Reverand Frank Wirght is one of the most underrated musical geniuses of the 20th century. He was born on July 9th 1935 in Grenada Mississippi but grew up in Cleveland. As a young man he was an electrical bassist in R and B bands in both Memphis and Cleveland. He switched to tenor sax and embraced the free jazz movement after meeting Albert Ayler and being greatly influenced by him. In the mid 60s he moved to New York City and played with some of the big names in the Avant Garde movement including, briefly, John Coltrane. His first sessions as a leader were recorded for the small ESP label. Not finding an appreciative audience for his music he moved to Europe in 1969 and except for a brief return to New York in the 1970s he spent the rest of his life in Europe. He recorded as a leader primarily for small European labels and played in groups with expatriate American musicians in the 1970s and with European leaders of the Avant Garde music such as Peter Peter Brötzmann in the 1980s. He continued to perform occasionally in the US and did perform with both Cecil Taylor and the Art Ensemble of Chicago. He passed away on May 17 1990 in Germany. According to the liner notes for Unity (by Russ Musto) Rev. Frank Wright said shortly before his death “I was put on this planet by the Creator to proclaim the message of the Universal Spirit - to shout it to the people,”
The Complete ESP-Disk Recordings
ESP
1964-1965
Track listing: CD1: The Earth; Jerry; The Moon; Interviews: Bernard Stollman Meets Frank Wright; Recording; The Voice of Life; Playing With Other Musicians; Bernard Advises Frank on Europe; Europe vs America; Other recordings, books and more; All is said. CD2: The Lady; Train Stop; No End; Fire of Spirits; Your Prayer.
Personnel: CD1: Frank Wright: tenor saxophone, vocals; Henry Grimes: bass; Tom Price: drums. CD2: Frank Wright: tenor saxophone; Arthur Jones: alto saxophone; Jacques Coursil: trumpet; Steve Tintweiss: bass; Muhammad Ali: drums.
One for John
BYG
1969
Track listing: China; One for John.
Personnel: Frank Wright: tenor saxophone; Noah Howard: alto saxophone; Bobby Few: piano; Muhammad Ali: drums.
Uhuru Na Umoja
Free America
1970
Track listing: Oriental Mood; Aurora Borealis; Grooving; Being; Pluto.
Personnel: Frank Wright: tenor saxophone; Noah Howard: alto saxophone; Bobby Few: piano; Art Taylor: drums.
Church Number Nine
Black Keys
1973
Track listing: Church Number Nine Part1; Church Number Nine Part 2.
Personnel: Frank Wright: tenor saxophone; Noah Howard: alto saxophone; Bobby Few: piano; Muhammad Ali: drums.
Unity
ESP
1974
Track listing: Unity part 1; Unity part 2.
Personnel: Frank Wright: tenor saxophone; Alan Silva: bass; Bobby Few: piano; Muhammad Ali: drums.
Kevin, My Dear Son
Chiaroscuro
1978
Track listing: Odeon; No End to the Sun; November the First; Cowboys and Indians; Long Way from Home; Kevin, My Dear Son
Personnel: Frank Wright: tenor saxophone; Kamal Abdul-Alim: trumpet; Georges Arvanitas: piano; Reggie Workman: bass; Khalil Abdullah: percussion; Eddie Jefferson: vocals; Philly Joe Jones: drums.
Stove Man, Love Is the Word
Sandra
1979
Track listing: Stove Man, Love Is the Word; T-and-W; Rice Patch; Export.
Personnel: Frank Wright: tenor saxophone; Kamal Abdul-Alim: trumpet; Tony Smith: piano; Khalil Abdullah: percussion; Richard Williams: bass; Gerry Griffin: drums.
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