Nancy Wright & The Rhythm Roots

Saxophonist Nancy Wright has been blowing ’em away on Bay Area stages for decades, but who knew she could sing like this? She’s a Junior Walker Jr. and a Bonnie Raitt blueslinger rolled up in one sweet, soulful package. “Putting Down Roots” is a major breakthrough for this accomplished, beautiful lady.”
– Joel Selvin, music critic, San Francisco Chronicle

“One of the hottest blues sax players in the business, she is known for powerful, soulful, fascinating playing. Her sax solos are a highlight of any show she’s in.”
– John Orr, San Jose Mercury News

” . . . Big, fat tone, warm vibrato, nice building of tension and release . . . some kickass blues playing and loads of fun to listen to . . .”
– Bruce Iglauer, President of Alligator Records

” . . . Wright (has a) naturally bluesy voice . . . a semi-shouting mezzo soprano that’s reminiscent in its approach to Ruth Brown and Dinah Washington . . . (she doesn’t) just sing the blues, (she) feel(s) them as well.”
– George “Blues Fin Tuna” Fish, Blues Blast Magazine

” . . . San Francisco-based saxophonist Nancy Wright operates in the big-toned tenor tradition of Gene Ammons and Houston Person . . . Wright is the real deal . . .”
– Bill Milkowski, JazzTimes

Well-established as a top Blues sax sideman for more than 30 years, Nancy Wright released a new blues/roots CD in early 2015, adding vocal and songwriting dimensions to her artistry. “Putting Down Roots” consists of twelve blues/roots originals (six instrumentals and six vocals) spanning blues, R&B, New Orleans, funk, and gospel styles.

Though she’s called the Bay Area home for 30 years, Wright’s saxophone career got its start in Dayton, Ohio. She was a classically-trained bassoon player majoring in Music, when the university theater department offered her the sax player role in a production of “Cabaret.” Arriving early for rehearsal one day, she found a group of musicians in the hallway jamming on the blues. They invited her to sit in. “The coin dropped that day,” says Wright, “and I discovered the world of improvisation.” Having trained on piano, violin, concert harp, flute and brass, as well as bassoon, Wright says it was also “a question of finally getting to the right instrument.”