The Orchard

A classic CD from a classy and profound singer. Lizz Wright makes music to last a life time- yes that number Two.

Lizz Wright is too be watched for a loooong time to come. This, her 3rd project, is another success. Her amazing contralto voice adds this velvet cover to every note played by the stellar musicians. Is it me or is her collaboration with Toshi Reagon (of her own musical notoriety which she was born into and then blazed her own path - the daughter of the incomparable Dr Berniece Johnson Reagon, the founder of Sweet Honey in the Rock and the late Cordell Reagon, who also lent his wonderful tenor voice to the Civil Rights Movement) the "Wright" medicine? Her cover of Ike's "Idolize You" makes me want to coerce my dad to send me his album so I can hear the two songs in succession. This was a birthday gift to myself and what a GIFT!!! Lizz is WRIGHT on!!! If you get the opportunity to see/hear her live, do so. Her persona comes through in her performance. When I last saw her, surprisingly the band was composed of all young musicians who delivered just as she, with this maturity, depth, wisdom, and love for their craft. Cant wait for her to sing these songs live as well.

I'm at 4 and 1/2 stars on this one, and I've been going back and forth between whether to go "5" or "4" for about a week, now. (My life is full of such problems, you know!)

Lizz Wright has such a beautiful, strong, sexy contralto voice that she practically automatically gets 4 stars as a starter for anything she does. And producer Craig Street, who also produced 2005's "Dreaming Wide Awake," manages to showcase Ms. Wright always to her great advantage.

Here's my problem: I thought that "Dreaming Wide Awake" was the best vocal c.d. of 2005. It had a spirituality, a presence of God about it, that you rarely hear. Frankly, it's a difficult, well nigh impossible c.d. to top.

And Ms. Wright and Mr. Street, IMO, don't top it.

Why not? For one thing, that c.d. had Bill Frisell on 3 of its cuts, and in retrospect, on 3 of its best cuts. That's no knock on Chris Bruce, the guitarist on both who does fine work. But Frisell can add a 1/2 star to just about any vocalist's effort by himself. Frisell doesn't play on this one.

For another, Lizz Wright is a good writer; but I think her most memorable work has been on covers. "Dreaming Wide Awake" was about half originals, half covers. This one has three recognizable covers out of 12, and my two favorite cuts on "Orchard" are her very sensual take on Ike Turner's "I Idolize You" and her ethereal, haunting cover of Mel Tillis' "Strange."

I will say that Ms. Wright and Mr. Street do some ground-breaking work. Lizz Wright is ostensibly a jazz singer; but this c.d. really is at the intersection of jazz, r & b, soul, alt rock and country. Lizz Wright has been oft compared with Cassandra Wilson; and this c.d. to Lizz Wright is like "Thunderbird" was to Ms. Wilson. I gave "Thunderbird" 5 stars, and it's very tempting to do the same with this one.

And ultimately, but for "Dreaming Wide Awake," I would. Take my 4 star review not as a gentle "dis," but as a further enthusiastic plug, even 3 years later, for "Dreaming Wide Awake." RC

Lizz Wright has one of the most refreshing voices in music today, and I have been a loyal fan of hers for five years now. "Salt" was one of my favorite CDs of 2003. Of course because of the talented Ms. Wright, but the production on the album was flawless. So two years later I was a little bewildered when I didn't have the same kind of love for her sophomore effort "Dreaming Wide Awake". Aside from a track or two I wasn't able to connect to much of the project. I was hoping for "The Orchard" to be a "Salt 2", and well that's not what we got. Instead this album is a hybrid of its two predecessors, combing the "earthiness" of Dreaming and the "soul" of Salt. Craig Street has outdone himself as far as production goes, complementing Wrights smooth tone beautifully. "Another Angel", "Speak Your Heart", and "This Is" are standouts in an overall impressive collection. Its a great album, already one of my early favs of the new year. This one is not to missed!!!!

It has been a long time since I have bought a CD and loved every song. This album has achieved that status!! Lizz Wright is a phenomenal artist with a unique, incredible style, and deserves to be better recognized. Everyone I have played this CD to absolutely loves it. Check out all three of her albums. Also check out her singing on Joe Sample's "The Pecan Tree" in the song "No one but myself to blame". Absolutely moving.