Home » Jazz Musicians » J.J. Wright

J.J. Wright

J.J. Wright's style cannot be easily categorized. Trained as a jazz improviser at the New School for Jazz in NYC, he's also passionate about sacred music. Palestrina and Bach vie with Monk and Cannonball Adderley as just a few of his harmonic and melodic inspirations. While with the U.S. Naval Academy Band, Wright performed for the President—as well as several other high-profile diplomatic gigs—and with the Caribbean Jazz Project: Afro Bop Alliance, recording and performing with vibraphonist Dave Samuels. The album was nominated for a GRAMMY for 'Best Latin Jazz Album' and won the Latin GRAMMY in the same category. J.J. recently recorded his debut album of original compositions and covers from Jon Brion, Sufjan Stevens, and Phil Collins. He is joined by Nate Wood on drums and Ike Sturm on bass and released the album in conjunction with a U.S. tour in August 2014.

J.J. is Director of Music at the Church at Point O' Woods on Fire Island, NY. When he's not busy pursuing a DMA at Notre Dame's program in Sacred Music or or studying conducting with Carmen-Helena Tellez, he's a husband and father to three beautiful children.

Tags

The New York Jazz Record - "Best Debut Record of 2014" Ted Gioia - "The 100 Best Albums of 2014", #45

"Under-the-radar jazz album that deserves your attention." - Ted Gioia

Something Else Reviews - S. Victor Aaron's Best of 2014

"Uncommonly fresh and quietly inventive, Inward Looking Outward breathes new life into the venerable ol’ piano trio without having to step outside to achieve that. A rare achievement, to be sure." - S. Victor Aaron

"It's something of a cliché to say that an artist is one of a kind, but it fits the bill with Wright. His music is informed by religion, yet his music bears no traces of religiosity, and he's plugged into the rhythmically perspicacious nature of modern music, yet he often speaks in measured tones, using direct phrasing that's at once unique and wholly in tune with the ear." - Dan Bilawsky, All About Jazz

Read more

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Vespers for the...

Ignatius Press
2019

buy

Vespers for the Feast...

Transfiguration Vespers
2017

buy

O Emmanuel

Dynamic Catholic
2016

buy

Videos

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.