| Frank Wright Trio | |
| Type: | album |
| Artist: | Frank Wright |
| Cover: | Frank_Wright_Trio.jpg |
| Released: | 1966 |
| Recorded: | November 11, 1965 |
| Studio: | New York City |
| Genre: | free jazz |
| Length: | 33:57 |
| Label: | ESP-Disk 1023 |
| Next Title: | Your Prayer |
| Next Year: | 1967 |
Frank Wright Trio is the debut album by saxophonist Frank Wright. It was recorded in November 1965 in New York City, released by ESP-Disk in 1966, and reissued on CD in 1992. On the album, Wright is joined by bassist Henry Grimes and drummer Tom Price.[1] The tracks were also reissued in 2005 on the Frank Wright compilation The Complete ESP-Disk Recordings.[2]
ESP-Disk founder Bernard Stollman recalled the origins of the album: "John Coltrane was playing with his quartet at the Village Gate during the Christmas holiday. I was greatly impressed by the playing of a guest artist, a saxophonist. When the set ended, I approached and complimented him on his playing. I asked who he was. He said, 'I'm Frank Wright, from Cleveland.' 'Do you have a record label?' 'Oh no, I'm not on any record label.' I said, 'Well, you are now.' He'd been pressing pants in a dry cleaning shop in Cleveland before he came to New York. Shortly afterwards, he formed a group and went into the studio."[3]
In a review of the CD reissue for AllMusic, Scott Yanow wrote: "All of tenor saxophonist Frank Wright's recordings can be considered a bit of a blowout. For his debut as a leader, Wright... rips into three of his originals: 'The Earth,' 'The Moon' and 'Jerry.' Due to the brevity of this CD reissue..., his follow-up ESP date Your Prayer gets the edge, but both are easily recommended to open-eared listeners who enjoy hearing fiery sound explorations."
In an article for All About Jazz, Clifford Allen commented: "Wright... was one of the forerunners of the multiphonics-driven school of saxophonists to follow the direction pointed by Ayler, but with a more pronounced bar-walking influence than most of his contemporaries. Whereas Ayler's high-pitched wails, wide vibrato and guttural honks all belied an R&B pedigree, his solos still contained the breakneck tempos and facility of bebop... Wright, on the other hand, offers his honks and squawks with a phraseology derived from the slower, earthier funk of R&B and gospel music... The opening 'The Earth' starts with a brief vibrato-heavy and bluesy slow theme on unaccompanied tenor that quickly erupts into a frantic screamer of a solo, a mix of buzzing upper-register cries and low bleating honks, occasional recognizable stock R&B phrases making their way into the melange... Unlike Ayler, there is not a significant amount of solo construction, for it appears Wright was throwing together ideas in a spirit of jubilation. The rhythm section is certainly strong and experienced, and are given ample duet room after Wright's solo ends."[4]
All compositions by Frank Wright.