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UID:1992552:Event:335647
DTSTAMP:20260601T031321Z
SUMMARY:JJ Wright Trio
DESCRIPTION:Wed Aug 20    7:30 pm   $15  ($5 with Pitt ID) \nal
 l ages Frick Fine Arts Auditorium, Univ of Pittsburgh, Oakland The Con
 sortium Jazz Series at Pitt presents piano-jazz ensemble from South Be
 nd, Indiana on Ropeadope Records J.J. Wright TRIO http://jjwrightmusic
 .com/ with special guests Scientific Soul Pianist/composer J.J. Wright
  studied jazz improvisation at The New School for Jazz in New York Cit
 y and is currently Director of Sacred Music at Sacred Heart  Parish a
 t the University of Notre Dame. He has performed with the US Naval Aca
 demy Band and with vibraphonist David Samuels.  Wright also composed 
 and performed with the quartet Turn Around Norman, initially based in 
 the Baltimore, MD-area. For his debut as a leader \"Inward Looking Out
 ward\" (Ropeadope Records), Wright works and plays with Nate Wood (dru
 ms) and Ike Sturm (bass) on a 9-song program consisting of 6 originals
  and 1 tune each by Sufjan Stevens (\"Little Person\"), Jon Brion (\"T
 he Tranfigurations\") and Phil Collins (\"Take Me Home\"). The first i
 mpression this listener had is just how upfront Wood's drums are in th
 e mix.  One might make a connection to the sonic quality of The Bad P
 lus (Wood is as active a drummer as TBP's Dave King) but Wright has a 
 different touch and attack than Ethan Iverson. Still, there are moment
 s such as on the Brion tune where, in the piano-bass duet part of the 
 song, the pianist's left hand work has the flavor of EI's.  Wright br
 ings in one tune from his \"..Norman\" days, the funky \"Consolations.
 \"  Sturm's thick tone and buoyant bass lines mesh well with Wood's a
 ctive and dancing drums.  The pianist rides with and atop the beat, c
 reating a hypnotic feel.  The 5-section \"JTC\", separate compositions
  spread through the program, ranges from the hard-edged \"II\" that op
 ens the CD to the classically flavored \"I\" that follows. The latter 
 track takes its time to develop, going through different tempos and me
 lodic ideas before Wright's solo hits its stride. \"III\" is a soulful
  gospel-tinged, ballad (not unlike a Randy Newman ballad); un-rushed, 
 the piece takes its time but is a highly satisfying journey. There's m
 ore than a hint of Bud Powell and Chick Corea in the rhythm and melodi
 c movement on \"IV\" (Wood flat-out \"swings\" while Sturm \"walks\" o
 r offers strong counterpoint.  \"V\" also is a gospel-infused ballad 
 , this time leaning more to sound and feel of Richard Manuel of The Ba
 nd.  Wood sets the pace on the Phil Collins song, a beat that neither 
 wavers nor flags.  Wright presents the melody without flash or false 
 sentiments.  The Trio does an admirable job of raising the intensity 
 as they move to the final choruses and emotional climax, leaving the d
 rummer to take the song \"home.\" J.J. Wright makes a powerful, musica
 l, debut on \"Inward Looking Outward\" (also an apropos title for a re
 cording) - his interactions with Nate Wood and Ike Sturm seem natural 
 not forced and one can tell he felt comfortable to be himself (letting
  the rhythm section do what they do best.)\n\nFor more information vis
 it https://jazzburgher.ning.com/events/jj-wright-trio
DTSTART:20140820T183000Z
DTEND:20140820T210000Z
CATEGORIES:concert
LOCATION:Frick Fine Arts Auditorium, University of Pittsburgh, Oakland
WEBSITE:
URL:
CONTACT:412-361-2262
ORGANIZER;CN="Manny Theiner":https://jazzburgher.ning.com/profile/Mann
 yTheiner
ATTACH;FMTTYPE="image/jpeg":
ATTENDEE;ROLE=REQ-PARTICIPANT;PARTSTAT=ACCEPTED;RSVP=TRUE;CN="Manny Th
 einer":https://jazzburgher.ning.com/profile/MannyTheiner
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