Wright’s jazzy vocal style “dreamy”

by Kyle Christensen
Courier Staff

Following her 2003 debut CD, “Salt,” which made her a star in critics’ eyes and attracted an initial horde of awestruck fans, soulful songstress Lizz Wright returns to captivate eager audiences with her calm and altogether alluring sophomore entry, “Dreaming Wide Awake.”

Originally released last summer by Verve Forecast Music, heavy buzz from the entertainment industry has recently helped elevate the singer’s status from mere underground treasure to mainstream jazz revolutionary.

The Good: Possessing a bluesy edge and stunningly expressive technique, Wright aptly serenades on the title track “Dreaming Wide Awake” and carries this emotional impact throughout the complete collection. Her sultry take on the 60s ballad, “A Taste of Honey,” far surpasses the original, and an easing reiteration of the nursery lullaby, “Wake Up, Little Sparrow,” is quite utterly breathtaking. Most refreshing in our modern age of synthetic melodies is that much of the album contains authentic instrumentation (kudos to marvelous lead guitarist Chris Bruce) and even the few rare cases of slight electronic mixing help give the songs a certain euphoric, mystifying ambiance, particularly the applaudable “When I Close My Eyes” and “Without You.”

The Bad: Sadly, her writing efforts prove weak on other original tracks, such as “Hit the Ground” and “Trouble,” and the sweet, but strangely simplistic, “I’m Confessin’,” feels awkwardly out of place in the jumble of more exquisite, arousing singles. Though hardly ear-wrenching, perhaps the ambitious artist should also learn to leave well enough alone, before attempting to recreate already sensational (and more well-produced) hits like Neil Young’s “Old Man” and the flower child anthem “Get Together” by the Youngbloods.

The Bottom Line: All minor flaws aside, however, Wright’s vocal musings, poetic lyricism and mellow renditions help set her high above the rest, rightfully earning her acclaim as “one of the year’s most promising new voices (‘People Magazine’).” In the end, the record successfully accomplishes what it should, leaving the listener in avid contentment while anxiously awaiting more to come. If that isn’t the mark of a true musical virtuoso, then just what is?

Final Grade: A-