ANDRE WRIGHT
AMERICAN JAZZ DRUMMER
André Wright is a native of Toledo, Ohio. He is an American USA Jazz inherited Drummer.
André got his start playing drums at the age of 10 in the Pentecostal church known as the St. James Church of God in Christ located in Toledo, Ohio. It was in this church where André experienced first hand the talents of the amazing musicians that came through the church doors. Musical greats such as Andre Crouch, Thomas Whitfield, and the great Hawkins family were just some of talents that performed. Through these incredible performances, André was able to inherit that great foot stomping, back-beat feel!
Sean Jones, Carl Allen, Stanley Cowl, Cecil McBee, Andre Wright
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“Music is a way of life for me, whatever you put into it is what you get out of it.”
~ANDRE WRIGHT
Johnny O’Neal, Marcus Belgrave in front of Andre, Larry Smith down below, Charles Murphy with the bass, Robert Harris is on the far right.
At the age 14, André continued his musical journey as he experienced the irresistible “bite” of jazz. This happened through a school field trip arranged by Mrs Ophelia Thompson. Mrs. Thompson continued to help broaden Andre’s musical understanding by introducing him to recorded compositions by Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Bud Powell. Andre was able to listen and grab ahold of this great magical feeling and ambience created by this wonderful music. This was a time when one would sent down and listen to these American composers and performers of this great art form known as Jazz!
As André grew in his musical career, he began playing at blues and clubs venues in Toledo, leading to premier venues around the Midwest!
At 25, André began studying the origin of this genre of music. He discovered his jazz forefathers Art Tatum and John Hendricks. It wasn’t long before André was actually able to perform with the great John Hendricks. He considers this performance as one of the highlights of his life.
The great Martha Reeves
André went on to work with Detroit jazz masters such as Marcus Belgrave, Kenny Cox Teddy Harris, Donald Walton, Donald Harrison, Gerri Allen, Claude Black and the great Barry Harris. André has also shared the stage with jazz greats McCoy Tyner, Benny Goldson, Sean Jones, Delfeayo Marsalis, Maurice Brown, Bob Hurts, Rodney Whitaker, James Carter and Vincent Chandler.
André Wright has a big sound when he sits behind the kit! But ultimately, he is very gentle when he is delivering this message of story telling from the great American jazz masters who came before him!
If you have the opportunity, come experience this great and unique sound where André Wright speaks the truth!!!
