Lizz Wright
Encyclopedia
Lizz Wright is an American
jazz
/R&B singer and composer
.
Wright was born in the small town of Hahira
in the US state of Georgia
; one of three children and the daughter of a minister
and the musical director of their Church. She started singing gospel music
and playing piano
in church as a child, and also became interested in jazz
and blues. She attended Houston County High School
, where she was heavily involved in choral singing
, receiving the National Choral Award. She went on to Georgia State University
in Atlanta
to study singing. Since then she has studied at The New School
in New York
, and in Vancouver
. She currently resides outside Hendersonville, North Carolina.
Wright joined the Atlanta-based vocal quartet In the Spirit in 2000, which soon achieved critical acclaim, and in 2002 she signed a recording contact with Verve Records
, where her musical compositions and vocal style led her to be compared to that of Norah Jones
.
Her first album, Salt, was released in the spring of 2003 (and reached number two on the Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz chart in 2004). Her next release was not a follow-up of her debut, but this record maintained the jazz and pop
blend, while incorporating folk music
to her musical blend. Dreaming Wide Awake
in June 2005 (which reached number one on the Top Contemporary Jazz chart in 2005 and 2006). In 2008, Wright released The Orchard to positive reviews.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
/R&B singer and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
.
Wright was born in the small town of Hahira
Hahira, Georgia
Hahira is a city in Lowndes County, Georgia, United States. The estimate population as of July 2009 is 2,328. The population was 1,626 at the 2000 census. Hahira is led by Mayor Wayne Bullard and four members of the elected City Council...
in the US state of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
; one of three children and the daughter of a minister
Minister of religion
In Christian churches, a minister is someone who is authorized by a church or religious organization to perform functions such as teaching of beliefs; leading services such as weddings, baptisms or funerals; or otherwise providing spiritual guidance to the community...
and the musical director of their Church. She started singing gospel music
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
and playing piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
in church as a child, and also became interested in jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and blues. She attended Houston County High School
Houston County High School (Georgia)
Houston County High School is one of six public high schools for grades 9-12 in the city of Warner Robins, Georgia, USA...
, where she was heavily involved in choral singing
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
, receiving the National Choral Award. She went on to Georgia State University
Georgia State University
Georgia State University is a research university in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Founded in 1913, it serves about 30,000 students and is one of the University System of Georgia's four research universities...
in Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
to study singing. Since then she has studied at The New School
The New School
The New School is a university in New York City, located mostly in Greenwich Village. From its founding in 1919 by progressive New York academics, and for most of its history, the university was known as the New School for Social Research. Between 1997 and 2005 it was known as New School University...
in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
. She currently resides outside Hendersonville, North Carolina.
Wright joined the Atlanta-based vocal quartet In the Spirit in 2000, which soon achieved critical acclaim, and in 2002 she signed a recording contact with Verve Records
Verve Records
Verve Records is an American jazz record label now owned by Universal Music Group. It was founded by Norman Granz in 1956, absorbing the catalogues of his earlier labels, Clef Records and Norgran Records , and material which had been licensed to Mercury previously.-Jazz and folk origins:The Verve...
, where her musical compositions and vocal style led her to be compared to that of Norah Jones
Norah Jones
Norah Jones is an American singer-songwriter and occasional actress.In 2002, she launched her solo music career with the release of the commercially successful and critically acclaimed album Come Away With Me, which was certified a diamond album in 2002, selling over 20 million copies...
.
Her first album, Salt, was released in the spring of 2003 (and reached number two on the Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz chart in 2004). Her next release was not a follow-up of her debut, but this record maintained the jazz and pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
blend, while incorporating folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
to her musical blend. Dreaming Wide Awake
Dreaming Wide Awake
Dreaming Wide Awake is the second album by singer and composer Lizz Wright, released in 2005 . It reached number one on the Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz chart.-Track listing:#"A Taste of Honey" – 3:51...
in June 2005 (which reached number one on the Top Contemporary Jazz chart in 2005 and 2006). In 2008, Wright released The Orchard to positive reviews.
Solo releases
- 2003: Salt
- 2005: Dreaming Wide AwakeDreaming Wide AwakeDreaming Wide Awake is the second album by singer and composer Lizz Wright, released in 2005 . It reached number one on the Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz chart.-Track listing:#"A Taste of Honey" – 3:51...
- 2008: The Orchard
- 2010: FellowshipFellowship (album)Fellowship is the fourth studio album by an American singer Lizz Wright, which was released on 28 September 2010. Guest performances on the album include Angelique Kidjo, Joan as Policewoman, Meshell Ndegeocello and Bernice Johnson Reagon.-Track listing:...
Guest vocal contributions
- "No One But Myself to Blame" and "Fool's Gold" on The Pecan Tree by Joe SampleJoe SampleJoseph Leslie "Joe" Sample is an American pianist, keyboard player and composer.He is one of the founding members of the Jazz Crusaders, the band which became simply The Crusaders in 1971, and remained a part of the group until its final album in 1991 .- Biography :Sample began playing the piano...
(2002) - "...Till Then" and "Fiddle and the Drum" on ...Till Then by Danilo PerezDanilo PérezDanilo Pérez is a Panamanian pianist and composer.-Early life:Danilo Pérez was born in Panama in 1965. He is considered one of the finest contemporary pianists and jazz composers of our era....
(2003) - "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" on Closer by David SanbornDavid SanbornDavid Sanborn is an American alto saxophonist. Though Sanborn has worked in many genres, his solo recordings typically blend jazz with instrumental pop and R&B. He released his first solo album Taking Off in 1975, but has been playing the saxophone since before he was in high school...
(2005) - "Come Rain or Come Shine" on One More for the Road by Toots ThielemansToots ThielemansJean-Baptiste Frédéric Isidor, Baron Thielemans , known as Toots Thielemans, is a Belgian jazz musician well known for his guitar and harmonica playing as well as his whistling. Thielemans is credited as one of the greatest harmonica players of the 20th century...
(2006) - "Freedom" on Supply and DemandSupply and demandSupply and demand is an economic model of price determination in a market. It concludes that in a competitive market, the unit price for a particular good will vary until it settles at a point where the quantity demanded by consumers will equal the quantity supplied by producers , resulting in an...
by Amos LeeAmos LeeAmos Lee is an American singer-songwriter whose musical style encompasses folk, rock and soul. Lee has four albums on Blue Note Records and has toured as an opening act for Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, Norah Jones, Paul Simon, Merle Haggard, Van Morrison, John Prine, Dave Matthews Band and Adele. In...
(2006) [back vocals] - "Reaching for the Moon" on We All Love Ella: Celebrating the First Lady of SongWe All Love Ella: Celebrating the First Lady of SongWe All Love Ella: Celebrating The First Lady Of Song is a 2007 tribute album to Ella Fitzgerald, released to mark the 90th anniversary of her birth.-Track listing:#"A-Tisket, A-Tasket"...
(2007) - "Whispering Pines (with Jakob DylanJakob DylanJakob Luke Dylan is the lead singer and songwriter of the rock band The Wallflowers and is a son of singer-songwriter Bob Dylan and Sara Dylan. He has also recorded two solo albums.-Personal life:...
)" on Endless Highway – A Tribute to the Band (2007) - "Stillness: Winterhouse" on Persona by Massimo BiolcatiMassimo Biolcati-Biography:Massimo Biolcati was born in Stockholm, Sweden and grew up in Sweden and Italy. Biolcati has performed and recorded with the likes of artists such as Michael Bublé, George Garzone, Jeff Ballard, Terence Blanchard, Ravi Coltrane, Paquito D'Rivera, Herbie Hancock, John Scofield, Wayne...
(2008)