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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.

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

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)

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 )

With Doug Watkins

• Soulnik (New Jazz, 1960)

References

1. Feather, Leonard; Gitler, Ira (1999). "Wright, Herman Austin". The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 709.
2. Chell, Samuel (2007-10-23). "CD/LP Review: Terry Gibbs Quartet Featuring Terry Pollard". All About Jazz. Retrieved 2010-09-24.
3. ^ Jurek, Thom (2017). "The Complete Songs of Innocence and Experience - Allen Ginsberg". AllMusic. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
4. Jenkins, Todd S. I know what I know: the music of Charles Mingus Greenwood Publishing Group, 2006 ISBN 0-275-98102-9 ISBN 978-0-275-98102-0 at Google Books
5. U of Pennsylvania

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