John Wright on the South Side
In the 1950s Chicago produced a number of jazz piano masters, some of which have gone on to legendary careers. Along with Ramsey Lewis, Ahmad Jamal and Harold Mabern, other notables from that time include local legend John Wright.
Wright’s recording career was extremely brief (only five LPs in the early 1960s and one comeback LP in 1994), but his reputation far exceeds his limited recording output.
Born in Kentucky and raised in Chicago, Wright began his professional career playing piano and organ in church at age seven. After serving in the 7th Army Special Services (playing piano for those stationed in Germany during the early ‘50s), he returned to Chicago and played locally there until catching the ear of Prestige Records in 1960.
Wright recorded five LPs with Prestige during the period from 1960 through 1962. Though well performed and produced, they were not big sellers – likely because Wright did not tour much, preferring to stay in the Chicago area. As such, his exposure was limited to the local scene and he was not as widely known to the national audience as his contemporaries Ahmad Jamal and Ramsey Lewis would become.
By the mid-1960s, all of Wright’s LPs would be out of print, with only sporadic re-issues in the ‘80s and early ‘90s, while his debut LP “South Side Soul” (arguably his best), grew in stature to something of a legendary lost classic.
Featuring bassist Wendell Roberts and drummer Walter McCants, “South Side Soul” has re-appeared on vinyl as part of the Original Jazz Classics series in a 180 gram, all analogue edition. Notable tracks include the title tune,”La Salle Street”, and “63rd and Cottage Grove” – all played in an easy swinging blues style somewhat reminiscent of Gene Harris’ Three Sounds.
John Wright and all of his albums should be better known. Hopefully this release will result in the wider recognition he deserves.