|
contents | jazz | |||||||||||||
| Alonzo Wright Releases Solo Debut Bitz Of Pieces After 20 years on the Jazz scene and working with some of the most well known names in the genre, saxophonist, Alonzo Wright, independently releases his debut solo album, Bitz of Pieces (Out Of The House Records) on October 15, 2008. The 11-song set, which includes one bonus track, features renowned musicians and contemporary Jazz and R&B vocalist Will Downing. Bitz of Pieces is available at CD Baby, Amazon and Napster. "Bitz of Pieces is a true labor of love, " says Wright." "It took almost 20 years to complete and I feel the music has stood the test of time, " he adds. On Bitz of Pieces Wright showcases his talent on saxophones, flutes and percussion and credits his friend, Grammy nominated and Sony Innovator Award winner Bob Baldwin, with making the album a reality. In addition to Baldwin and Downing, Wright teams up with a cadre of innovative and experienced jazz musicians for this debut project. Featured on Bitz of Pieces are pianists Bob Baldwin and Onaje Allan Gumbs, multi-instrumentalist Vincent Henry, guitarists Marvin Sewell, and Larry Marsden, drummer Buddy Williams, percussionist Bashiri Johnson, bassists Reggie Washington and Kenny Davis, vocalists Will Downing and Audrey Wheeler-Downing, trumpeter Ray Vega, steel drummer Garvin Blake, and keyboardist Eric Smith. Influenced by such artists as Grover Washington, Jr, George Howard, Andy Narell, Kit Walker, Dave Valentin, and John Coltrane, Bitz of Pieces, will appeal to Adult Contemparary and Fusion enthusiasts as well as fans of Earth Wind & Fire, George Duke, Spyro Gyra, and Jeff Lorber Fusion. Alonzo Wright was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, and now resides in Harlem, once the home of New York's Jazz scene. Wright's interest in music began at the age of eight and continued through high school where he focused on saxophone and flute. Over the years he's studied with private teachers and spent a semester at Jazz Mobile. The real honing of his craft has been through professional relationships with artists such as Dave Valentin, Bob Franceschini and Kenny Garrett, who he's worked with as road manager for 4 years. Wright's first foray into recording was with Asi (aah-see), a group he co-led as part of an ongoing fusion partnership with Kendall Scott, that featured Gene Lake and Reggie Washington. write your comments about the article :: © 2008 Jazz News :: home page |