Destination

Tom Wright has gone solo after collaborating with violinist Zach Brock on their first CD, "Common Ground", and on "High Voltage", from Delmark Records. Now he offers seven originals and a cover of a tune from Beck's great CD "Guero". Good grooves and rocking solos, instrumental tunes featuring electric viola as the lead voice, along with saxophone, guitar, and piano. Standup bass and drums round out a live-band feel, playing straightahead tunes with virtuoso soloing by Chicago's finest. Tom's electric viola has a deeper voice than the violin, matching the tenor sax easily in low register while still comfortable in soprano range. The string edge blends well with jazz or rock guitar, and equally with Hammond organ or Rhodes piano. Tom places his influences among the rock greats of the late 60s, but also contemporary greats like John Scofield and Michael Brecker. An important background factor is his time in the symphony orchestra, and the intimate familiarity with repertoire like Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring" or Frank Zappa's "Yellow Shark".