Observing and getting to know Mark Wright has been a particularly gratifying and rewarding experience. While operating a jazz nightclub, one has an opportunity to catch the music truly in flight. It comes in all forms... from wonderfully inspiring to... "let's go home." The gratification with Mark Wright the musician, is that you know none of this has been a waste of time. He's up to the challenges and demands that the history of this music dictates. The reward is the simple conversion of application to transmission... the audience loves it! Mark Wright was born and raised in the city of Berkeley. No, he is not a product of the legendary Berkeley High School. His route was a bit different... academics and sports at St. Mary's High School. A chance reintroduction to a part of his mother's record collection turned him on to jazz. Goodbye sports dream, hello trumpet, and fast forward. While studying music at the University of the Pacific, Clark Terry heard Mark and offered encouragement. Family responsibilities... his mother's health... kept Mark in the Bay Area. His mother passed away a few years ago and Mark Wright has been reaching for the clouds ever since. Experience has been the operative word for young Mark Wright. He led a quintet... words and music/ worked in a big band... The Contemporary Jazz Orchestra; worked in roots bands... African and Reggae; expanded his quintet to a sextet...words and music; now, the first C.D. under his name. Berkeley, California could be described as the "theatre of the absurd." In a sense, Mark Wright has passed through it. Mark is no longer a "natural." He is a musician. Sonny Buxton Jazz at Pearl's, San Francisco KCSM-FM JAZZ 91 San Mateo Musically talented, intense, hard working, committed, very serious are all words that come to mind when I think of Mark Wright. Mark's dedication to high musical standards are exhibited in continuous work to grow and expand the expressiveness of his chosen instrument and in the prolific number of tunes he has composed. He has also Served in the key role of writer and arranger for working jazz, Afro-Laten, R&B and African musical units. In this, his initial, recording, I hear a young man who has fashioned from and through the myriad of life experiences, musical offerings that represent, for all of us to hear, enriching experiences of his cultural realities. Mark Wright's, "Wright Turn." The Wright Stuff! Joe Thornton Mark Wright... ...Wright Turn Mark Wright – Trumpet Charles McNeal – Tenor, Alto and Soprano Saxophones Dave Robbins – Baritone Saxophone Leonard Thompson – Piano Ravi Abcarian – Contra Bass Mike Spencer – Drums Produced by Joe Thornton Recorded and Mixed by Dave Bell at Bell Boy Studios February 2000 Mastered by Rudy Trubitt March 2000 Mark would like to thank everyone who has supported him on his musical journey. He would like to thank his family: Karen, Red, Net and all his cousins, the Fairview Street crew, Robbie Kwock, Graham Bruce, and all the musicians that he has played with and will play with in the future. Special thanks to: Joe Thornton, Sonny Buxton, Pearl and Jazz at Pearl's, Gail Harrington, Ed Kelly (thanks for my first gig), Achyutan and Barb, J.D. Grady, Pfelton Sutton, John Gant, Ward, Rod Lewis, Deborah Burgess, Dave Bell, Rudy Trubitt, and Paul Hoy. To Allen Perkins at Immedia for your eyes and ears. Mark especially thanks the musicians. “Thank you Rav, Dave, Charles, Leonard, and Mike for interpreting my music so beautifully. I truly respect and treasure your musicianship. May we continue to grow and make music together. Peace.” This Album is Dedicated to the memory of my parents Barbara L. Wright and William J. Wright, Thank you for giving me all of your love, Ma. May you rest in peace. For bookings contact Mark Wright, (510) 655-8350. Photos by Joe Thornton ©2000 all rights reserved. Graphics Paul Hoy. Liner notes Sonny Buxton and Joe Thornton. Art Direction Joe Thornton.