Review Text
Recorded at One Mic studios in Tucker, GA in the winter and spring of 2008, Thinking Out Loud captures the current lineup of the Trey Wright Trio performing 8 originals as well as interpretations of Soundgarden's "Blow up the Outside World" and "Analyze" by Thom Yorke. Co-produced by drummer Marlon Patton (Heavy Mojo, Grogus) the CD also features the talents of upright bassist Marc Miller (Mace Hibbard Quintet, Jacksonville State faculty member). The new CD combines the composition driven and mellow mood of the groups first CD Where I'm Calling From with the high energy playfulness of the groups live shows at the 5 Spot in Atlanta and the Melting Point in Athens. Trey Wright began playing guitar at age 15. Initially inspired by the blues, Trey was exposed to jazz early in his development by a private instructor. While studying Sociology at the University of Georgia, Wright furthered his study of jazz improvisation with pianist and composer Steve Dancz. In 1994, he co-founded the Athens/Atlanta based jazz band Squat. The group is a six-time winner of the Best Jazz Award at the Flagpole Athens Music Awards and has been a featured artist at the Atlanta Jazz Festival, the Twilight Athens Jazz Festival, Harvest Midtown, and has performed with Medeski, Martin, and Wood; the B-52's; Maceo Parker; Maynard Ferguson; the Squirrel Nut Zippers; and the Charlie Hunter Trio. Along with managing Squat and producing six independent CD releases, Trey plays guitar and piano with the group touring throughout the Southeast. Trey also plays freelance in the Athens and Atlanta area and has performed with Yellowjackets bassist Jimmy Haslip, upright and electric bassist John Patitucci, Grammy winning saxophonist Joe Lovano, and Mel Bay Records recording artist Corey Christiansen. Trey has performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival, Jazz A Vienne, and the World Sacred Music Festival in Bangalore, India. As a solo guitarist and with his trio, Trey has been a featured performer at the Athens Music and Arts Festival, the Lake Oconee Jazz Festival, and the Atlanta Jazz Festival. Trey has also recently performed with the newly formed Cobb Symphony Jazz Orchestra (CSO JAZZ!). In December of 2002, Trey completed a Master of Music degree in Jazz Studies at Georgia State University, and he currently is on faculty at Kennesaw State University and the Atlanta Institute of Music. Trey has also taught at LaGrange Colleg, Gainesville College and was a Jazz Artist in Residence at the University of Georgia. In 2006, Trey released his first CD Where I'm Calling From, receiving rave reviews and airplay throughout the United States, New Zealand, England, Australia, Germany, Italy, Canada, Luxembourg, Scotland, and the Netherlands. Trey will release his second CD Thinking Out Loud on Blue Canoe Records in the spring of 2009. WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING: "Blessed with a true gift of tuneful composition, Wright fills Where I'm Calling From with strong hooks that will stay with you for a long time. Furthermore, he knows how to arrange and build a track to tell a story, merging music and drama into a seductive mix that maintains a strong grip on your attention. With it's mainstream accessibility and distinctive sound world, Wright's music is truly original." - All About Jazz.com "Atlanta guitarist Trey Wright is quickly becoming one of the most interesting guitarists on the scene today ... The music is edgy, energetic, and will keep you glued to your speakers throughout. Though it is easy to group Wright in with more modern players like Kurt Rosenwinkel Adam Rogers, and Ben Ponder ... his sound and writing put him in a category all his own" - Just Jazz Guitar magazine "Trey Wright has an excellent grasp of just what makes jazz music seductive, eerie, and narcotically blissful" - Southeastern Performer "dramatic, precise ... versatile, talented performer and composer" - Flagpole Magazine, Athens, GA "11 laid-back and tasteful instrumentals" - Stomp and Stammer, Atlanta, GA "Beautiful
