Lizz Wright at Club Cafe

[LWayne]

Last night my wife and I caught Lizz Wright and her band perform a 1.5 hour set at the Club Cafe in Pittsburgh. This was only the second time that we have been in the club, which is a warm, cozy, smaller venue with excellent acoustics.

I will admit up front that I am not typically a big fan of jazz vocals (a decleration that I have heard from Joe Segal of the Jazz Showcase in Chicago as well). Having stated that; this show was an absolute thrill!

Lizz has a captivating, sultry, gospel-influenced voice and projects herself with great ease. Her tour manager told us that she was raised in the church in the south and that discipline shows through in her singing.

Most of the set was culled from her recent (this week) release "Dreaming Wide Awake" on Verve. Surprisingly, her jazzy interpretation of "Old Man" by Neil Young and the Youngblood's "Get Together" were highlights.

What a voice! She was recommended to me by Greg Davis of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band who books the talent for the Jazz Stage for the Jazz Fest in New Orleans. Don't miss her if she comes through your town.

LWayne

[LWayne]

Anybody know the names of her touring band?

LWayne

[ghost of miles]

LWayne, not long after reading your post yesterday, I heard a story about Wright on NPR's All Things Considered. Story here.