Scotty Wright Plays Caspar Community Center

Caspar News and Press Releases

Scotty Wright Plays Caspar Community Center

Rhoda Teplow Presents announces the return engagement of jazz vocalist Scotty Wright at 8 pm on Saturday, October 19th, 2002 at the Caspar Community Center. Tickets are $15, and reservations can be made by calling 964-ARTS and are also available at the door.

For a preview of this outstanding artist you can hear him sing with the trios at Headlands Cafe, Laurel Street, Fort Bragg, October 17th and 18th

Scotty Wright will be coming directly to Caspar after six months in Shanghai where he was featured at the House of Jazz and Blues and at the Cigar, Jazz and Wine Club in China. Immediately after the benefit at the Caspar Community Center he will fly to Japan for six months in Tokyo. The last time we heard Scotty in our area was Nov. 2001 at a home in South Caspar. He is one of the finest jazz singers anywhere. His versatility is matched by a warm, agile voice and an enthused creative drive that breathes an element of surprise into every song. Scotty went on the road with Up With People, completing his high school studies as he traveled and performed. Along with his solo responsibilities he was put on staff as arranger. After hearing Sarah, Ella, Hendricks and Betty Carter he was on his way. "Add to that all the music that a child of the fifties was exposed to; doo-wop, R & B, rock'n'roll, the sound of Ray Charles, James Brown and Aretha, Motown and the British bands. I heard a lot of different styles, and I tried singing all of them."

After traveling through Italy and Germany and across his own country, he returned to Monterey where he immersed himself in the local jazz scene. He was working in San Francisco when is first album, TOO MUCH FUN! was released. Concerts in New York and Hollywood followed and a homecoming of sorts, as Scotty was invited to perform at the Monterey Jazz Festival. He continued on to be featured on TV and in film.

Scotty's next album, rhythm, reason & rhyme, , brought his music into sharper focus: all the songs from the live concert were written by jazz composers. "I wanted to present an album that showed the breadth of jazz songwriting. People like Thelonious Monk, Wayne Shorter and Horace Silver have written so much music that goes largely ignored by singers. To show that it's possible to do an album of jazz singing without Gershwin, Porter or Kern was one of the goals. The real truth is, I just love the songs."

Scotty has been in high demand as a vocal coach, clinician and as a contributing writer to jazz magazines and web sites both here and abroad. JazzTimes Magazine says that "This West coast singer has it all -- a full-bodied and supple voice that can dip into the low range or scat at 60mph, great rhythmic sense, taste, and technique to spare. And can he swing!"

Don't miss this opportunity to hear Scotty Wright in person before he returns to the Far East in October for another six-month tour. Scotty says that, "The challenge of a solo concert is to separate the vocalist and pianist, giving the impression of a duo working together. Jazz relies so much on communication between the musicians; the solo performer must strive to extend that communication to include not only the audience, but even deeper levels of himself. When it happens, it's truly magical."

The Caspar Community is pleased to be able to create this opportunity to hear Scotty Wright in an intimate concert setting during the Bioneers Weekend in Caspar. Beverages and goodies will be served and part of the proceeds will benefit the purchase of the Caspar Community Center.

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