About the Musician

J.J. Wright's style cannot be easily categorized. Trained as a jazz improviser at the New School for Jazz in NYC, he's also passionate about sacred music. Palestrina and Bach vie with Monk and Cannonball Adderley as just a few of his harmonic and melodic inspirations. While with the U.S. Naval Academy Band, Wright performed for the President—as well as several other high-profile diplomatic gigs—and with the Caribbean Jazz Project: Afro Bop Alliance, recording and performing with vibraphonist Dave Samuels. The album was nominated for a GRAMMY for 'Best Latin Jazz Album' and won the Latin GRAMMY in the same category.  In addition to Mr. Samuels, J.J. has had the privilege of performing with Billy Hart, Ike Sturm, Nate Wood, Chris Cheek, Zach Harmon, Mark Ferber,  Matt Ulery, and Delfeayo Marsalis. 

In November 2016, O Emmanuel, debuted at the top of the Billboard Classical Charts where it remained for eight weeks.  Based on the 'O Antiphons' of Advent, O Emmanuel was commissioned by the Notre Dame Children’s Choir, and is scored for children’s choir, adult vocal soloists, string quartet, woodwind trio and Wright’s jazz piano trio.

J.J.’s graduate studies at the University of Notre Dame brought him to Rome where he researched and wrote his dissertation on early Baroque oratorio. In addition, he studied at the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music and interned with the Sistine Chapel Choir.

He is currently Director of the Notre Dame Folk Choir, a role he began in 2017, and has released three albums and traveled to East Africa and Israel with the choir. On their most recent album, J.J., Tristan Cooley, several professional collaborators and the Folk Choir created, premiered, recorded, released and toured The Passion, a staged rendition of the scriptural story. The album was recorded in the Holy Land and produced by Joe Henry. The Passion has been performed in churches and performing arts centers up and down the East Coast, most prominently at The Town Hall in NYC and The Strathmore Music Center in Bethesda, MD.

J.J.’s most recent album is a collaboration with Brother Isaiah, a Franciscan Friar of the Renewal who serves the poorest of the poor. Mysteries & Medicines was released with great acclaim and generated more than 1 million streams and downloads less than a month after it was released.

When he's not conducting, composing, or recording, he's a husband and father to four beautiful children.

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