Lizz Wright

The first time I was introduced to Lizz Wright was on the Sunday Morning show's music review. I was mesmerized. Her voice is raw emotion, sultry, and rich in tones. The Orchard is excellent, especially song #4 (Hey Mann) and #12 (Strange).

This is a fabulous cd. I am amazed Lizz Wright is not more well known since she is so talented. This cd is sultry and bluesy (albeit a little mellow) which makes it a great cd to unwind with a glass of wine!

I learned about this CD from watching CBS Sunday Morning -- This woman's voice is soulful, smoth and silky -- just a dream to listen to. And her lyrics are just as strong. Buy this album -- you won't regret it. Great for any hour of day. It's 5:00 am as I write this and I'm enjoying the track "When I Fall" -- and I'm confident you will too (though you don't need to listen to it at 5 am!)

Lizz Wright has never been shy of experimentation with her sound - seemingly exempt from any commercial pressure, she has been allowed a journey (perhaps by her label) that many of her contemporaries would truly envy.
"The Orchard" continues with evolution of her artistry off the beaten path and the result is an incredibly personal album.
Working again with producer Craig Street (a producer famous for his work with a broad palette of singers such as Cassandra Wilson, k.d. lang, Me'Shell 'Ndegeocello), she moves further away from the accessible jazz of her 2003 debut "Salt" and toward contemporary soul without sacrificing any of her music's sensuality or spare beauty.
Her debut album was a great success critically, but "Dreaming Wide Awake" was an attempt at Norah Jones pop/jazz.
Now, Wright is back on the right track working with folk/blues ace Toshi Reagon on half the dozen cuts.
"The Orchard" is the mostly self-written album and it reflects her journey through life, starting with her life growing up in the small, rural church town of Hahira, Georgia. She may be technically considered a Jazz artist, but she's got plenty of Soul and Rhythm & Blues in her music as well.
The CD features an eclectic cast that includes noted singer/songwriter Toshi Reagon, who co-wrote several songs with Wright; Calexico members Joey Burns and John Convertino; avant-guitar hero Oren Bloedow; longtime Bob Dylan sideman Larry Campbell; Ollabelle member Glenn Patscha; and guest vocalists Catherine Russell and Marc Anthony Thompson (aka Chocolate Genius).
A youth spent singing in southern churches has left an indelible mark on the music of jazz-pop phenom Lizz Wright. But above and beyond her innate soulfulness -- her father was the preacher and musical director of her hometown church in Hahira, Georgia -- the young singer's strongest attribute is her tenacity.
When you first listen to her voice, many great names come to mind: Anita Baker, Cassandra Wilson, Regina Belle and Tracy Chapman.
Let it be said here: Lizz Wright is in a class all her own: the timbre of her voice is what strikes you first - rich and strong, infused with gospel and the vocal heritage of jazz.
Her knack for writing and interpreting intensely personal songs make it difficult to place her anywhere but in the heart.
She commits herself fully to her third effort, including the majority of the material she co-wrote. But something truly awesome transpires when she settles into hits by Led Zeppelin and Patsy Cline, each of which culminates with mind-blowing oomph.
In fact she luxuriates in her sprawling cover of Led Zeppelin's "Thank You", and her rendition of the Patsy Cline hit "Strange" is sublimely dreamlike.
Like any great singer, Wright has the ability to completely re-imagine and inhabit classic songs. She has the competence to get right inside her material, because she has an enviable ability to make focused, commercial music of great honesty.
Her voice, a large, contralto sound, often slow and heavy, is packed with emotion and commands attention, like on the opening track "Coming Home", a ballad with a prominent beat, a song that seems a blend between a spiritual and rock music and on the vibrant "My Heart".
The producer Craig Street, renowned for his understated, skilful recordings, doesn't overplay Wright's spectacular voice; instead, he drapes it in a polished contemporary jazz context mixed with blues and R&B plus a trace of pop and rock.
She responds with subtle grace and seeming sincerity, radiating a self-possession and maturity beyond her years.
Standout tracks : the intimate "Song for Mia", arranged in slow waltz-time; "The Silence", all pulsing piano and brushed-snare sixteenths and her blues-inflected, sultry interpretation of Ike Turner's "I Idolize You", where she oozes with primal desire.
It's not jazz, soul, blues or gospel - it's heart music.
"I'd been trained in choral, gospel and a little bit of opera", she says, "and wanted to move away from those styles. I love songs that create moments, that are very personal and that tell a story".
Whith this fine album, she has found "her" voice.

Like something good that you know is good, Lizz Wright is synonymous with impeccability and goodness. Her third album is a testament to this. The beautiful voice and the prestine arrangement; its all there and its familiar and flawless.The album starts strongly with "Coming Home" about being back from a war or the mere battlefields of life itself, then finishes with "Strange" a haunting, resonant ballad about being left behind for another. Everything in between is all good. It's a pity she spends most of the concert season in Europe. I highly recommend that you take every effort to see her live. It will be an experience that you will cherish. Hearing her sing right there is like nirvana, the ultimate in high defintion sound. Her etheral voice transcends, its pure joy. If you haven't heard of Lizz Wright, start with "The Orchard" then work your way back to "Dreaming While Awake" and "Salt" You'll discover a great artist and song writer.

In an industry where looks and image holds dominion over talent it's so refreshing to hear a voice that reminds me of a time when a singer didn't need video or studio enhanced vocals to sell their music. This is simply a truly gifted singer singing her honest mind. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

I only recently "discovered" Lizz Wright as a result of an Amazon recommendation. I bought the CD's in the reverse order of their release, Orchard, Dreaming Wide Awake, then Salt. Orchard is outstanding! The music is varied and interesting and accompanied beautifully. Dreaming Wide Awake is not as good, but shows growing sophistication and maturity. Salt (is this too politically incorrect?) is too ethnic-sounding for my taste. I cannot wait for the next CD. What a voice! What control! What emotion!

Great music. You'll be glad you bought this cd. What a voice. I bought three Lizz Wright cds, including Dreaming Wide Awake, and listen to them all the time.

I heard about this on Sunday Morning and they raved about Lizz so i thought I would try a CD.. I was pleasantly surprised how wonderful she sings. Lizz Wright has such a wonderful sound. MY ipod has LOTS of diffferent music (New and old, Country, pop, etc) and when a song of hers plays I put my ipod so I can hear all her songs I love it!

Every song on this CD is good and about half of them are great. She has a wonderfully deep voice that is soothing at the same time it makes you pay attention. Stop and Hit the Ground are my favorites, but A taste of Honey, Old Man, Wake Up Little Sparrow, and Get Together are very very close to them.

Great music. In fact, buy all three Lizz Wright cds (The Orchard, Dreaming Wide Awake, and Salt). You'll be glad you did. We listen to them often. Great jazz/soul music and a wonderful voice.

this is a really good album. i like all tracks and her voice is amazing and i feel this way about all three of her albums.

Liz Wright's voice is one to die for! When I first heard the Blue Rose on the radio I almost had to pull over! (I was driving) Her lusty tones and the rhythm and melody of the song is the perfect intro for a night of shared intimacy with a loved one. Her voice is like plopping onto your favorite bed, with a big fluffy pillow on it. She makes me think of comfort, of home. Wow! I was glad that I finally found this disk. If the rest of the disk was horrible (which it is not, I like it too!)I would still rank it five stars just for the Blue Rose song.

Lizz will charm you with her Amazing Voice, I promise you that you will fall in love with this Incredible CD, and eagerly purchase her second CD "Dreaming Wide Awake" where more than half of the songs are Great!Lizz brings the soulful velvetness of Anita Baker and a touch of style like Norah Jones Cd Come Away With Me, Lizz will WOW you, and like me you will be looking forward to her February 23rd release of her third CD..because Lizz just get's better, she has got the Wright stuff!

A fantastic first album. remarkable talent. If this were on LP I would have worn out several copies by now. Got to see Lizz two nights in a row as she toured on release of her second album. She was already a little apologetic at those sessions as everyone wanted to hear Salt. The thing is that the material on Salt was amazingly wonderful and showcased Lizz's beautiful voice, and her amazing emotion and expressiveness. Am looking forward to 3rd album Orchards for Feb 2008. Hoping it will burn a bright at Salt, and sound as sweet!!!