Nicknamed "The Senator," bassist Eugene Wright was an agile soloist with a steady sense of rhythm, best known for being an integral member of the legendary Dave Brubeck quartet of the late 1950s and '60s. Following his emergence as a reliable touring musician in the 1940s, Wright gained fame with Brubeck, appearing on the pianist's pivotal 1959 classic Time Out. Along with his work alongside Brubeck, Wright released his own 1962 album, The Wright Groove, and worked with such luminaries as Buddy DeFranco, Cal Tjader, Monty Alexander, and others. He was also a respected educator, who for a time headed both the jazz department at the University of Cincinnati and the International Society of Bassists.