A really righteous batch of tunes from Lizz Wright – in a set that may well be her most soulful to date! The material here comes from a host of different sources – some original tunes, spiritual tracks, some Angelique Kidjo songs, a few rockers, and even the great title cut – penned by Meshell N'Degeocello – all set to music that's nice and rootsy, with a good dose of organ and Fender Rhodes in the instrumentation, and topped by Wright's very spirited vocals! Titles include "Fellowship", "God Specializes", "Oya", "Amazing Grace", "Feed The Light", "In From The Storm", "All The Seeds", "Sweeping Through The City", and "I Remember I Believe". CD

One of the most deeply soulful sets we've ever heard from singer Lizz Wright – a record that has an even more acoustic feel than before, which really opens up the sound nicely! Given the depth of Wright's vocals, this shift is a really great move – one that lets her really stand out front of the backings and push things strongly with her well-noted dynamic range. Instrumentation is usually acoustic guitar, percussion, and a bit of piano – and although there's also some keyboards listed in the lineup, these are definitely kept on the back-burner to preserve the acoustic soul of the set. Titles include "Another Angel", "Hey Mann", "I Idolize You", "My Heart", "Coming Home", "Thank You", "Song For Mia", and "Strange". CD

A sweet young jazz singer – steeped in the traditions of Dee Dee Bridgewater and Dianne Reeves, striking out on her own in a really solid debut album! The set's got a warm, jazzy feel – lots of keyboards and piano in the backings, but done in a way that lifts up the voice of Lizz on a pillow of soul and spirituality. Tracks build from slow beginnings to a rich array of tones and colors – done in a style that's emotive, but subtly so. Titles include nice covers of "Open Your Eyes You Can Fly" and "Afro Blue" – plus "Soon As I Get Home", "Salt", "Fire", "Eternity", "Lead The Way", and "Silence". CD

Lizz Wright continues to grow and grow with each new release – with a style that's maybe more globalist than just the jazz and soul vocal modes that first informed her music – this really expressive mode that's moved into territory that's all Lizz's own – and which takes all these different shapes throughout the set! A key force in creativity here is bassist Chris Bruce – an artist we loved years back, when he was part of our Chicago scene – clearly a talent who's also evolved tremendously, and is a great partner for Wright, with whom he co-wrote some of the album's best tracks. The set features guest appearances from Meshell Ndegeocello, Brandee Younger, and Angelique Kidjo – and titles include "Root Of Mercy", "Sweet Feeling", "Lost In The Valley", "Circling", "Who Knows Where The Time Goes", "No More Will I Run", "This Way", "Your Love", and "Sparrow". CD

With Gerald Clayton on piano and Rhodes, Antonio Hart on flute, and Christian McBride on bass – plus special guests Clark Terry on trumpet, Lizz Wright on vocals, and Herbie Hancock as the "voice of Duke Ellington"! (Jazz, Neo Soul) CD