If you’re looking for the glamour and gloss of the 1920s jazz era of night clubs and dry martinis, let Lizz Wright be your soundtrack. The 23-year-old soulful girl from rural Georgia made her highly acclaimed and widely praised debut on the legendary jazz label Verve early last spring and will be performing at Mandeville Auditorium on Jan. 22.
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With a collection of cover songs and her own collaborated works with pianist Kenny Banks, Wright showcases her voice on Salt through well-known hymns (“”Walk With Me, Lord””), Broadway show tunes (“”Soon as I Get Home”” from “”The Wiz””) and classic jazz numbers from well-established singers (“”Open Your Eyes, You Can Fly”” originally performed by Flora Purim). Unlike most fans, Wright had the chance to remake each of her favorite songs into her own translation.
“”I have to be able to live with songs, I live with things I write; I live with things I cover. There’s no reason why I can’t identify with someone else’s experience. I’ll listen to it over and over again and I’ll just see if my life says it back to me,”” Wright said of her album track selection.
Born and raised in Hahira, Ga., as the youngest of three children with a father who was a minister and a mother who sang gospel at church services, Wright was surrounded by music, spirit and rhythm. Performing in church with her siblings since the age of six, Wright lived and breathed gospel music when she wasn’t doing homework or chores.
After having won several regional, state and national medals as a teenager in duet and quartet groups, Wright was introduced on Marian McPartland’s National Public Radio jazz program.
Lizz attended Georgia State University in Atlanta for one year, majoring in music performance. She quickly dropped out of the classical-based program to pursue her dreams of singing with jazz combos in dark, musty jazz clubs. When she relocated 200 miles south to Macon, Ga. Wright was independent for the first time in her life. While discovering the realities of independence, working to support living by herself, Wright also discovered the true nature of her voice and passion. She would drive two hours several times a week back to Atlanta “”just to sit down and hear some jazz.”” Shortly afterwards, she joined jam sessions and was invited to join the Atlanta band In the Spirit at Churchill Grounds. Wright and the group garnered praise from jazz critics in the South and gained popularity in Atlanta.
Soon, producer Tommy LiPuma caught sight of Wright’s enormous talent and introduced her to a new combination of musicians and collaborators, including kindred spirit, album drummer and co-producer Brian Blade, pianist and co-producer Jon Cowherd and pianist and collaborator Banks. The musical ensemble fully supports Wright’s fledgling exploration of vocals and soul on Salt, creating depth to compliment her triple-layer fudge cake voice.
Along with exploring her vocals, the charming chanteuse also explores her songwriting skills, explicating in detail her feelings with her newfound success and her wide-eyed country girl-in-the-big-city transition. With a critically celebrated debut into the modern jazz world, Wright is on a steady road to a career with respectable staying power.
Be sure to see the jazz goddess yourself when Wright performs at Mandeville Auditorium on Jan. 22 at 7:30 p.m. General admission tickets are $20; $15 for students and $19; for faculty, staff and senior citizens.
