Lizz Wright is Coming Home
Lizz Wright’s third album, The Orchard, is a collection of rich southern-flavored soulful songs. Her first two albums, Salt and Dreaming Wide Awake were jazz records, and she collaborated with some of jazz’s most respected players. Here, she works with a more varied group of musicians, along with singer/songwriter Toshi Reagon, who co-wrote some of the compositions with Wright. This is not exactly R&B/soul, jazz, folk, blues or country music, but rather a combination of all of them.
Ms. Wright has an extraordinary voice; her performances exude intimacy and warmth, and it’s on this album that her talent shines brightest. Every song on The Orchard is powerful. The aptly titled opener, Coming Home -a slow gospel song- sets the tone, as it seems that Ms. Wright found her inspirations in her childhood memories and Georgia hometown. Leave Me Standing Alone is the most up-tempo song here. It’s got funky guitars and backup singers. Wright gives Ike and Tina Turner’s bluesy I Idolize You her special interpretation. A great example of Ms. Wright’s versatility is a cover of Led Zeppelin’s Thank You. My Heart and Hey Mann are already my favorites. Another Angel, Speak Your Heart and Song For Mia are close behind. The closing song, Strange, was made famous by Patsy Cline. Here, Wright gives it a haunting and much slower interpretation.
This album, as her others, becomes more enjoyable with each listen. The Orchard is her most mature and most impressive work thus far. That’s all lot to say, because her debut album, Salt, was one of my favorites for a long time. This is a must-have for Wright fans, as well as for fans of music in general. It combines all kinds of music, and Ms. Wright sings her heart out with each note.
Checkout some Lizz Wright performances below.
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