Historical Photo Archive

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Ray Wright served as the Professor of Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media from 1970 to 1990 and also served as co-chair of the Conducting and Ensembles Department. With the help and guidance from my professors Jeff Campbell and Bill Dobbins I have created a Historical Archive which highlights our lush jazz musical history here at Eastman through the legacy that Ray Wright left as a pioneering jazz educator. Many of these photos are from the golden years of the event called the “Arranger’s Holiday”. This was an event led by Ray Wright in collaboration with Studio Orchestra that helped to bring many Jazz Greats to Eastman who have worked with the students throughout the years including Dave Brubeck, Duke Ellington, Mel Torme, Marian McPartland, Billy Taylor, Gerry Mulligan, Phil Woods, Thad Jones, Ron Carter, Clark Terry and Bob Brookmeyer to name a few.

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Some Quotes from the Past

“I can’t tell you the number of times my fondest dream has come true: that students have learned not only what I’ve taught them, but also how to learn- by analyzing the continually evolving musical models in the world and extending their craft by imaginative efforts. 

The most wonderful thing is to see students going beyond what I can take credit for – to see them turn their amateur efforts into professional work in terms of technical skill, consistency, and expressiveness.”

-Rayburn Wright, 1989

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“I would encourage people to take chances.”

-Bob Brookmeyer to Ray Wright, 1982 

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“I have always loved working with music. I find all music, especially jazz, an incredibly beautiful and wonderful outlet for human expression. “

-Ray Wright, 1986

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“One point I consider important is that you never consider measuring the importance of your playing by the number of people in the audience. For musicians, an important person for future work or contacts can just be one person in the room. . . Always play as if there were definitely such a person eavesdropping on you.”

-Ray Wright, 1983

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“The established ways of doing are all organized, set, and overworked because music schools train students to write this type. But there are so many creative offshoots possible that are not being explored. I have learned to exploit the unorthodox or unused possibilities in music.” 

-Ray Wright, 1965

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“I think my students progress so fast because they are ‘self-teachers’.”

-Ray Wright

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“I’ve never known an individual that exhibited such excellence, perfection, strength, organization and artistry, with such calmness, deftness, lightness, even warmth, humor and kindness, as Ray. He shows us all that excellence and balance can coexist.”

-Maria Schneider, 2012

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“Ray’s way was the ‘real world’ way, with the highest professional standards. He never dumbed it down for his students as players, writers, and teachers – an immeasurable gift to all of his proteges.”

-Fred Sturm, 2012

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“I came to Eastman specifically to study with him and I can safely say that he is the best educator I have ever studied under. He is a master craftsman with an unending flow of creativity.”

-Joel McNeely

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“Every concert, arrangement, or meeting with Ray Wright resulted in a change in how you might think about something. He was always helping each person reach their own personal best.”

-Vinnie DiMartino, 2012

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“The guiding line between daring and wrong is very thin. You should always walk that line.”

-Ray Wright, as retold by Dave Rivello, 2012

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“I have learned immeasurably, not only about music, but about humanity, imagination, and creative vitality, through working with Ray, and often simply through observing him in action.”

-Bill Dobbins, 1989

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