Lizz Wright

"The American jazz singer Lizz Wright has established herself, in more than twenty excellent albums of equally high standard, as one of the very best vocalists of her generation." – Theartdesk.com

Wright performed at Cosmopolite with her recognizable contralto before; her tool for conveying sensitivity and atmosphere, reminiscent of warm wood and mature red wine.

The album "Shadow" was released in April 2024 and is Wright's first studio album on her own label "Blues & Greens Records." The album is about Wright’s grandmother "Martha," who was her backbone and greatest love in life. Of her grandmother, Wright says: "She was even stranger than me... She used to pray in front of a big oak tree covered in moss if she felt down. That’s what the song 'Root of Mercy' is about. It’s a picture of who she was for our family, but also in American history." Critics are lining up to praise the release:

"Grounded in tradition" - Jazz in Europe

"A masterful work…authentic and musical beauty" - Forbes

"Shimmers with hope" - No Depression

Lizz Wright began her career in the gospel genre, singing "call-and-response" in church gatherings and singing her way through "The Great American Songbook" before establishing herself internationally. At the age of 23, she released her debut album "Salt," which climbed to the top of the Billboard contemporary jazz chart.

On the album, Wright is joined by Angélique Kidjo and bassist Meshell Ndegeocello, as well as two musicians, Arun Ramamurthy and Trina Basu, who play violin and have roots in South India. Much of the accompaniment is built around guitar playing, and producer Chris Bruce has contributed to this and some of the songwriting.

The album offers a genre-blurring style with jazz, soul, gospel, country, and folk, with a sensual and penetrating voice and musical precision.

"This album stands out from the crowd, offering a musical embrace that feels like home—no matter where you are." - The Jazz World