Lakeport >> Dubbed one of the country’s best female saxophonists, Nancy Wright performs at the Soper Reese Theatre on April 15 at 7 p.m. Wright has played her, soulful blues alongside John Lee Hooker, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Albert King and Lonnie Mack.
She first appeared on the Bay Area music scene in 1984 with the critically acclaimed New Orleans rhythm and blues band, Hot Links. Following a North American tour, Wright and Hot Links were tapped to perform with Swamp Boogie Queen Katie Webster, appearing on her Arhoolie Records release, “You Know That’s Right.”
Wright and Webster also performed together at the Chicago Blues Festival and appeared together on B.B. King’s album, “Blues Summit,” winner of the 1994 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album.
In 2015 Wright’s CD “Puttin’ Down Roots” was voted one of the top 20 blues albums of the year in the Downbeat readers poll.
While the blues thread remains the strongest in the tapestry of Wright’s music, in the late 90s a new thread appeared — the opportunity to work with local Hammond B3 organ artist Jackie Ivory (who also worked with sax luminaries Junior Walker and Willis Jackson). This rekindled her love of organ combo music, which led to a performance with Hammond star Tony Monaco and to the release of her critically acclaimed debut CD “Moanin’” (produced by Monaco and backed by his trio) featuring a mix of soul jazz, blues, ballads and boogaloo,
Playing with Wright on April 15 is the Rhythm & Roots Band which features Paul Revilli on drums, Anthony Paule on guitar, Tony Lufrano on keyboards and Paul Olguin on bass. Revelli has performed with many acts including Angela Strehli, Lou Ann Barton, Tracy Nelson, Marcia Ball and Charlie Musselwhite. Paule has worked with Johnny Adams, Bo Diddley, Louisiana Red and Boz Scaggs. Lufrano has also played with Boz Scaggs as well as Bonnie Raitt, and Huey Lewis & the News. Olguin has performed with Mary Wells, The Drifters, Roy Rogers and Augie Meyers.
The Soper Reese Theatre is located at 275 S. Main St., Lakeport. Tickets cost $15 and are available online at soperreesetheatre.com; at the theater box office, 275 S. Main St. in Lakeport, on Fridays 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; or at The Travel Center, located at 1265 S. Main St. in Lakeport, Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information call (707) 263-0577.
