Lizz Wright

Guide Note

Singer/songwriter Lizz Wright established herself as one of the hottest up-and-coming young jazz vocalists when she released the album Salt in 2003. A former church choir singer, Wright's sultry contralto vocals caught the attention of record label Verve Forecast when she performed in a series of a Billie Holiday tribute concerts in 2002.

Fast Facts

1. Born: January 22, 1980
2. Birthplace: Hahira, Georgia
3. Current Home: New York City
4. Genre: Jazz/Soul/R&B;
5. Years active: 2000-present
6. Record Label: Verve Forecast
7. Discography

The Minister's Daughter

Wright grew up in Hahira, Georgia, the daughter of a minister and a church gospel singer. She won several awards performing with her high school choir before moving on to study voice at Georgia State University and New York's New School. After leaving college she joined a group called In the Spirit and began to make a name for herself in Atlanta, leading eventually to her discovery at the Billie Holiday tribute concert.

Beyond Genres

Wright performs both original compositions and covers of classic artists, including Billie Holiday, Neil Young and Led Zeppelin. Although she has been hailed as a jazz artist, Wright's albums are a mix of genres, from gospel to folk to R&B;, and her second and third albums, Dreaming Wide Awake and The Orchard, moved away from jazz somewhat to further highlight this eclectic style.

Quotes

1. "It's like the world caught me tampering with jazz and so that's what I am. That's the picture that we took. But even when I listen to Salt, I don't think about jazz. I think it's a very broad record. It was like an action shot, like someone caught me in midair."—Lizz Wright
2. "Music is primal; when it's done without pretension, you can really feel the shape of someone's soul."—Lizz Wright
3. "I come from a place where we don't use a lot of words. It's really about emoting."—Lizz Wright
4. "Music lives in that place where anything can be picked up. It can become a different statement in someone else's hands than in my hands. The fact that it can be passed from hand to hand is something beautiful, almost spiritual."—Lizz Wright