ANSON WRIGHT TRIO

2022 BIAMP PDX JAZZ FESTIVAL
ANSON WRIGHT TRIO
ARTBAR  | 5.00 – 6.30 PM
FREE Community Event

Featuring:
Anson Wright guitar
Jof Lee piano
Tim Gilson bass

Anson Wright has worn many hats during his multi-talented career. He is a jazz guitarist, composer, novelist, poet, activist, and educator. An honors graduate of Princeton, he wrote his novel, Jericho, in New York City at the age of twenty-six. Anson composed and performed finger-style music in the city for several years while he absorbed the sounds from the vibrant jazz scene. His interest in jazz deepened as he studied jazz theory from numerous teachers, including Howard Roberts and Jerry Hahn, while he continued to pursue a literary career that saw the publication of Openings, a book of selected writings published with a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, and a book of poetry, Sandstone Monastery. Anson has released albums featuring his original jazz compositions, as well as a spoken-word CD featuring his poetry and the music of jazz guitarist, John Stowell. Anson’s latest CD, Only Love, came out in December 2019. His latest literary offering, an excerpt from his novel, Sixteen Dreams, was published in December 2021. Anson has performed throughout the Northwest as well as nationally and internationally, including India, He has taught at numerous schools, including New York University, Pacific University, and Portland Community College.  Anson has volunteered his time since 2006 to head the Chaco Alliance, a citizens’ group dedicated to protecting sacred lands in the Southwest.

“Wright may not be a household name, but he should be.” All About Jazz

“Only Love is not pretentious. It doesn’t walk around with its nose in the air, despite its graceful confidence and sophistication. It is, indeed, jazz for the common man.” Elmore Magazine

Pianist Jof Lee has been a well known fixture on the West coast jazz scene for over 30 years. He has performed with such jazz legends as Stan Getz, Teddy Edwards, Pete Christlieb, Bud Shank, Bennie Maupin, Red Holloway, Eddie Harris, Richie Cole and many others. Jof has been featured on dozens of notable and award winning jazz recordings. Included among these are LP’s and CD’s recorded with bassists Leroy Vinnegar and Ben Wolfe, guitarists Dan Faehnle and Matt Schiff, drummers Mel Brown and Akbar DePriest, saxophonists Dennis Springer and Javon Jackson, vocalists Marianne Mayfield and Mario DePriest … all of which display his uniquely powerful pianistic skills. In addition to his vast experience as a performer and recording artist, Jof was also involved as a clinician for the Bud Shank Centrum Jazz Workshop and for many years taught piano master classes and jazz theory clinics for the Mel Brown Summer Jazz Camp.

Tim Gilson began studying music seriously at Mt Hood Community College and shortly thereafter began playing professionally in the Portland area. He travelled to Los Angeles to study with John Clayton and in 1988 won 2^nd place in the International Society of Bassists semi annual competition in the Jazz Division. Upon returning to Portland Tim began playing with many nationally acclaimed artists as they came to Portland including Mose Allison, Ritchie Cole, Bud Shank, Herb Ellis, Julian Priester, John Handy, Ernestine Anderson and many others. He toured Japan in 1993 with the Mel Brown Quintet with special guest artist Chuck Findley on trumpet. Tim also went back to school and earned a Bachelor of Music and a Masters degree from Portland State University in Double Bass performance with an emphasis in Composition.

In 1994 he moved to Madison Wisconsin where he served as Principal Bassist with the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra and Assistant Principal for the Madison Symphony Orchestra.  He was also sought after in the Wisconsin jazz scene and played occasionally with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. Tim returned to Portland in 2002 to direct the Mt Hood Community College String Ensemble and perform in a variety of settings including with the Oregon Symphony backing guest artists such as Dee Daniels, Byron Stripling and Herbie Hancock. He has also accompanied several guest artists including Wycliff Gordon, Antonio Hart, Matt Wilson and Ingrid Jensen when they came to the Northwest as guest artists. Tim continues to teach, perform, arrange and conduct as Director of the MHCC Orchestra and Adjunct faculty at PSU. Tim plays regularly with the Mel Brown Trio and the Mel Brown Septet.

“One of the best bass players I’ve played with”- John Handy during a NW tour.