Herman Wright

Herman Wright was a jazz bassist. He was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1932, and, in 1960, moved to New York City, where he resided until his death in 1997.^[1]

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

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)