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 four 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 five 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 upright
and electric bassist John Patitucci, Grammy winning saxophonist Joe Lovano, Tim
Hagens, Tim Armacost, and Mel Bay guitarist Corey Christiansen. With the Steve Dancz
Quartet and the UGA Jazz Band, Trey has performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival, Jazz A
Vienne, and the World Sacred Music Festival. 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, as well as residencies at Gylands, Last Call, and
AMF in Athens, GA and Loco’s Pub and the Five Spot in Atlanta, GA. Trey’s solo guitar
style is a unique blend of Americana, Jazz, Brazilian, gospel, and world music.
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 LaGrange College, Kennesaw
State University, the Atlanta Institute of Music, and is a Jazz Artist in Residence at the
University of Georgia. Trey will be releasing his first CD, Where I’m Calling From in
February 2006. Trey is also putting the finishing touches on Comping the Blues: An
Introduction to Jazz Harmony for the Guitar, to be published by Mel Bay Books in late
2006.
Discography:
2006 Trey Wright Where I'm Calling From Namaste Records
2005 Bousfield The Seed Namaste Records
2004 Squat Recycled Namaste Records
2003 Dan Gardner More Than Life DG Records
2002 Squat Gruelash Namaste Records
2000 Squat Athfest Compilation Ghostmeat Records
1999 Squat Placebo Namaste Records
1997 Squat Tales From the Side of the Road Namaste Records
1995 Squat Cycles Namaste Records
Performance Highlights:
- Since 1994, touring the Southeast and beyond with Athens/Atlanta based jazz band
Squat. Squat is a four time winner of the Best Jazz Band Award at the Flagpole
Athens Music Awards and has been a featured artist at the Atlanta Jazz Festival, the
Twilight Athens Jazz Festival and has opened for Medeski, Martin, and Wood; the b-
52's; Charlie Hunter Trio; Maynard Ferguson; Squirrel Nut Zippers; and Maceo
Parker. - Performed in a quartet with John Pattitucci for a bass symposium concert at the
University of Georgia. - While a student at GSU, performed with Grammy winner Joe Lovano, Tim
Hagens, and Tim Armacost. - In 1999, performed as part of the Steve Dancz Quartet at the World Sacred Music
Festival in Bangalor, India sponsored by the Dali Lama and Tibet House. - Performed with Steve Dancz and the University of Georgia Jazz Band at the
Montreux Jazz Festival and the Jazz A Vienne festival.
Teaching Experience Highlights:
- Part-Time Instuctor of jazz guitar at Kennesaw State University.
- Adjunct Faculty member of LaGrange College teaching Theory Fundamentals, Jazz
Ensemble, Jazz History and Applied Jazz Guitar. - Artist Instructor at the University of Georgia teaching Master Classes, Jazz
Combos, and lessons. - Currently teaching classes in jazz improvisation and sight-reading as well as private
lessons at the Atlanta Institute of Music. - Gave lectures in Jazz History, directed jazz combos, and arranged and conducted
the GSU Guitar Ensemble II as part of a teaching assistantship at Georgia State
University (2000-2002). - Taught Applied Music at Gainesville College.
- Taught private lessons and classes as Group Lesson Program Coordinator at
Jennings School of Music in Kennesaw, Ga. - Recorded a “Jazz Rhythm Section” video with Steve Dancz for the University of
Georgia. - Live rhythm section and improvisation clinics at GMEA, University of Georgia,
Mercer University, Putnam County Middle School, the Jazz A Vienne festival, and
Cedar Shoals High School in Athens, Ga.
