Through an inimitable voice that the New York Times touts as “a smooth, dark alto possessed of qualities you might associate with barrel-aged bourbon or butter-soft leather,” acclaimed vocalist and songwriter Lizz Wright sings with a soaring reflection of the cultural fabric of America. Wright is one of the great modern American singers with an illustrious 20-year career transcending social divides with her offer of love and deep sense of humanity.
Wright culls inspiration from her Southern upbringing in Georgia, where she was the musical director of a small church for which her father was the pastor. The call-and-response singing with the church congregation was her first brush with music. Soon she would traverse the Great American Songbook on her path to becoming an international treasure.
At age 22, Wright first made a name for herself nationally as a vocalist with a touring concert tribute to Billie Holiday. At 23, she signed with Verve Records for the 2003 release of her debut album, “Salt,” which topped Billboard’s contemporary jazz charts. She went on to record for Universal Music Group and released the albums “Dreaming Wide Awake” (2005), “The Orchard” (2008) and “Fellowship” (2010). On Concord, Wright released “Freedom & Surrender” (2016), featuring the single “Lean In,” which landed on President Obama’s summer 2016 playlist, and “Grace” (2017).
In 2020, Wright took her culinary skills as a graduate of Dr. Annemarie Colbin’s Natural Gourmet Institute of New York to Carver 47 Food & Wellness Market on the South Side of Chicago. She summoned her Southern upbringing in Georgia and 20 years of European touring to inform the nutrient-forward menu at the beloved Chicago café and market. Housed inside the Little Black Pearl Art & Design Academy, founded by innovative Chicago business leader and designer Monica Haslip, Carver 47 operates in homage to the market’s fundamental dignitary, the legendary Dr. George Washington Carver.
Wright launched her own independent label, Blues & Greens Records, with the June 2022 release of “Holding Space,” a brilliant live album (produced by Christian Ulbrich) capturing a Berlin, Germany, concert in 2018, as well as a companion short film, “Holding Space,” produced by Monica Haslip and Lynne Earls. Her innovative label venture has a business model through which artists are positioned to build wholesome careers. After 20 years of major-label contracts, Wright now owns her master recordings for the first time in her career. Blues & Greens Records creates a healthy ecosystem for Wright with sustainable and sound business practices at the forefront.
In 2024, Wright released her ninth studio album, “Shadow,” produced by Chris Bruce and executive-produced by Wright on Blues & Greens Records (with licensing/distribution through Lightyear Entertainment/Virgin Music). For the disc, Wright wrote five originals that celebrate the intimacy of romantic love, loss, community and healing.
On “Shadow,” Wright worked with renowned engineer Ryan Freeland, who recorded “Grace” and has also worked with music legend Bonnie Raitt. “Shadow” features acclaimed artists Angelique Kidjo and Meshell Ndegeocello. Anchored by acoustic guitars and layered with string quartets, harp, Carnatic Indian classical strings, gospel vocals and bare emotion, “Shadow” presents Wright in a gentle and triumphant light.
Please note: Biographies are based on information provided to the CSO by the artists or their representatives. More current information may be available on websites of the artists or their management.
