SALT - CD

Personnel includes: Lizz Wright (vocals); Myron Walden (alto saxophone); Derrick Gardner (trumpet); Vincent Gardner (trombone); Kenny Banks (acoustic piano, Fender Rhodes piano); John Cowherd (acoustic piano); Sam Yahel (Hammond B-3 organ); Sarah Adams, Ron Carbone, Crystal Garner, Judy Witmerr (viola); Ellen Westerman (cello); Adam Rogers (acoustic, electric & bottleneck guitars); John Hart (acoustic guitar, guitar); Brian Blade (acoustic guitar); Doug Weiss (acoustic bass); Brian Blade, Terreon Gully, (drums); Jeff Haynes (percussion). Producers: Tommy LiPuma, Brian Blade, Jon Cowherd. Recorded Right Track Studios, New York, New York between August and December, 2002. Vocalist Lizz Wright delivers jazz that harks back to such luminaries as Nina Simone and Abbey Lincoln on her debut Verve release, Salt. Still in her early twenties, Wright has a warm, dusky voice reminiscent of Cassandra Wilson and similarly to Wilson seems interested in tackling an eclectic mix of jazz standards, traditional folk, and R&B. Early on, a folky afterglow-Latin version of "Afro Blue" takes center stage followed by the gorgeous "Soon as I Get Home," which betters the version from The Wiz. Wright fairs equally well as a songwriter with about half the album filled with her soaring, bluesy ballads. There is a melancholy yet positive '70s vibe that eminates from songs like "Fire," which resonates lyrically as well as melodically much like the personal/sociopolitical writing of another of Wright's obvious inspirations, Terry Callier. Perhaps a little too low-key to register very high on the pop radio scale, but invested with enough sanguine emotionality and chops to make Salt easily recommended to fans of the neo-soul movement. ~ Matt Collar