Jazz Guitarist, Writer
Master guitarist, composer, writer, and educator Anson Wright is a graduate of Princeton who left a doctoral program at Columbia to pursue his artistic visions in the music and literary worlds of New York City. In New York, he composed and performed original music for finger-style guitar as well as completing his novel, Jericho. His formal jazz guitar studies began on the West Coast in clinics with Howard Roberts. Later teachers included guitarists John Stowell and Jerry Hahn as well as veteran pianist Harry Gillgam. Anson has performed throughout the United States and has worked with numerous jazz luminaries, including Grammy nominated vocalist Nancy King. In addition to his jazz playing, Anson’s poetry has been set to modern dance and to music, and his original guitar compositions have been choreographed for modern dance. Anson has taught at numerous schools, including New York University, Pacific University, and Portland Community College. He is an endorsing artist for Hofner guitars.
Anson Wright is one of the small number of jazz artists who have received critical acclaim as writers as well as musicians. Author Anais Nin praised the writing in his novel, Jericho, calling it “bottom of the sea level”. The National Endowment for the Arts provided the funding for his second book, Openings. Anson’s first full-length poetry book, Sandstone Monastery, was released in 2004. Poems from Sandstone Monastery were set to music in the 2008 CD, The Sky At Our Feet.
Anson’s new 2009 CD, Ukiah’s Lullaby, is available now. Please visit the Schedule/News page for reviews, and the Store link for buying information.
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