Lizz Wright, Turnhout, Belgium 22 sept. 2018

How we are treated over here !

Within 6 months we get to see Lizz Wright perform over here in Belgium.



She visited us with almost the same band as last time in Brussels. (The only change was Martin Kolarides on guitar)
The Musicians played the intro, Lizz walked on stage and gave us a little thing to get used to.  What happened to that wonderful long hair of yours? But, like she told us, "If your grandmother says it's much better that way, who are we to disagree?". But let's get on with the important stuff.

The show opened, just like in Brussels with 'Barley', followed by her wonderful rendition of 'Old Man' (Neil Young). After that the concert followed a different path. While last April, the emphasis was on her new songs from Grace,  yesterday we received a broader setlist of her songbook. It implied f.e. that we got to hear her perform Joe's 'Stop (Don't tell me)'. It is necessary over here to credit Nicholas D'Amato for that fantastic improvisation on Bass he did in this song. And it is only fair that I continue with the entire band : Bobby Sparks on Piano and Hammond, Brannen Temple on Drums, and off course Martin Kolarides on Guitar. Great together, but they also, all had their solo moments in the show, and received a well deserved aplausse from the audience for it. It fitted wonderfully with Lizz's singing. Every now and then, she took the tambourine, to add some more rhythm. And does she have rhythm ! And does she have a beautiful tambourine. I'm serious here, I'm really jealous of that object. If I'm not mistaken, it displays a wonderful seashell ?

The concert gradually build up to its highlights 'Grace' and 'Seems I'm never tired of loving you'. Stunning performances, but  I'll be honest over here, I'm still hoping to hear these songs with a live gospel choir.
After the encore, the houselights went on, and when we were already making our way out, Lizz came back on stage. "I realised I didn't say goodnight to you all"  And with that, she sweetly ended the evening and wished us a good night, and a safe trip home.

Slowly, reports are coming in that she will be back in our regions, again after 6 months. Oh, how we are treated over here....
Don't forget that Gospel choir now.

Greetings,
Stefan.

P.S.
If you remember from the last time at her concert I wrote a little bit on Smartphone use. We sat verry close to the stag this time, and the seat next to me was empty. As if the Devil himself was involved, as soon as the houselights went off, a more professional (seeing her equipment) came to sit next to me for half of the show, and shot pictures with a lens long enough to hit my head from where she was sitting. click-click-click next to my ear, followed by checking the display if the picture was useful.

Grace, Lizz Wright & Brussels

Thank you Brussels! We'll see you soon, Hamburg. pic.twitter.com/8QXbcvmexc

— Lizz Wright (@lizzwrightmusic) April 17, 2018

Yesterday morning, the newspaper reported of a Gay-couple who have been attacked in the center of Brussels on Monday night.... I hope I didn't scare you away now, but I wanted to start with the knowledge that I'm not naive in it all. We live in a world we all have things we don't understand. A group of people don't want to open up for things they don't understand, and within that group there are people who want to aggressively scare away, the things they don't understand. A few months ago, there was a wave of organized vandalism in the city. It wasn't the first and it won't be the last reporting of such things. No, I'm not naive in it...

But on Monday evening I was in that same Brussels to go and see Lizz Wright perform. I saw a different reality. It was real because I witnessed it, so it's also reality. One that doesn't make it to the newspapers.

It started when I stepped off the train and found my way towards the exit. A refugee addressed me, like he probably tries to address as many people as he can to try to make his family make it through today (to start with). As a farewell he said: “Thank you for looking at me."
With that 1 sentence he explained the most important thing when we don't understand each other. Don't turn away, open up, listen and look at each other.

I had some time before the concert started, so I strolled through the center in that beautiful evening with spring in the air. I witnessed a community full of different people. Ethnical, religious, interests, .... But everyone enjoyed the evening together, made fun together, listened to music and performed together. 2 cyclists bumped in to each other and people cared, helped and comforted. There was no fear at all in the air. Those of you who have been following me a bit know that a couple of years ago I wrote with a different tone when I was here. Also, the center of Brussels is a huge construction site currently. The 4-lane street, that cut the center in 2 is being adjusted to walking space, with water and green elements in it. Small narrow stairs to the subway station are opened and widened. Big ugly, old, empty buildings are taken down, and suddenly beautiful places are connected again. Light is coming in.

It was a wonderful appetizer for Lizz Wright's concert. She presented us a concert of older songs, and songs from her latest album Grace. She opened with 'Barley', followed by an amazing rendition of Neil Young's 'old man'. The evening went from one fantastic experience to the other. What an amazing voice she has. And!... What a talented band accompanied her. Chris Bruce on Guitar, Bobby Sparks on the Keys, Nicholas D'Amato on Bass and Brannen Temple on Drums.
The only thing I missed were those wonderful backing vocals on songs like 'Grace' and 'Seems I'm never tired of loving you'. Wouldn't it be amazing if suddenly a curtain opened behind her, and an entire Gospel Choir was there? The place would have exploded!  A well filled Ancienne Belgique embraced her and the band, and had the most wonderful evening. Several people tried to take that feel home with them on their smartphone, but we all know that is impossible. What we did all hoped for as being possible was that the concert lasted longer. But hey,... the time spent can't be taken away.

What more can I say, then the honest fact that I hope everyone can witness such an evening,

Greetings,
Stefan.

Joe and Lizz Wright talk about Grace.

Happy Releaseday 'Grace'

Words escape me to explain my appreciation for this album. How can I use an alphabetical vocabulary, to explain this musical masterpiece. You should simply listen to it, and let this album, these musicians, this voice cradle you in its warm arms.

Lizz Wright's rendition of Barley

New single of Lizz Wright's upcoming album 'Grace'.

Barley
Produced by Joe Henry
Written by Allison Russell
Originally recorded by Birds of Chicago, (available on the album 'Real Midnight' which was also produced by Joe).

Need I say more....

As Wright herself writes, “‘We sing to remember home and to make ourselves at home in any place.’ These are the words of my dear friend Toshi Reagon. In ‘Barley,’ JT Nero and Allison Russell (from Birds of Chicago) churn a wise and faith-filled sentiment to build a place to rest assured of my sense of belonging and peace. I’m excited to see young writers using this old blues style of repetition in their work. Feels so good.” (Paste Magazine)

Grace will be released on September 15, 2017.
pre-order it today!

First single out from Grace.

Something we all are waiting for, is the release of Lizz Wright's upcoming album 'Grace', produced by Joe.

NPR has an interview with Lizz, and gives you a first single : Seems I'm never tired Lovin' you .

Make sure to check that out !

Grace, by Lizz Wright

A lot of details concerning Lizz Wright's upcoming album have been released. The album will be entitled 'Grace', and releasedate is set for September 15, 2017.

There are 2 covers on the album, where Joe also produced the original versions. First there is 'Barley' from Birds of Chicago. And then there is the titletrack by Rose Cousins.

I give you some excerpts from the press release.

Grace was tracked live on Sunset Blvd in Los Angeles alongside a standout cast of musicians at United Recording Studios – the sessions feature her nearly 20-year collaboration with Atlanta-based pianist and choir director Kenny Banks Sr., special guest guitarist Marc Ribot, bassist David Piltch, guitarists Chris Bruce and Marvin Sewell, drummer Jay Bellerose, and keyboardist Patrick Warren. An expansive collection of 10 songs and an original co-write with Maia Sharp (“All the Way Here”), Grace is Wright’s testament of devotion to speaking and embodying the fullness of her humanity through music. Her most clear statement to date, Grace finds Wright standing center stage in the complex dialogues of coexistence and interdependence between all walks of life.

The vast landscapes portrayed on Grace are brimming with Wright’s singular translations of music by Ray Charles, Allen Toussaint, Nina Simone, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, k.d. lang, Bob Dylan, Frank Perkins and Mitchell Parish, as well as emerging artists Rose Cousins and Birds of Chicago. From a body of about 70 covers collected primarily by Joe Henry, 10 works were selected that mirror Wright’s rural upbringing and the trail of stories and songs that have brought her to the world stage. Having a strong sense of intention to speak of grace from the inception of the project, Wright forwent writing the title track after hearing “Grace” by Rose Cousins – the first title track Wright didn’t compose from her catalogue of six studio recordings. 

Grace opens with “Barley,” a song penned by Birds of Chicago based on the traditional blues format of word repetition. With its sweeping march and repeating phrases, “Barley” has Wright churning an ancestral force of affirmation and encouragement.

Joe Henry’s years of friendship and collaboration with Allen Toussaint brought “Southern Nights” to the pre-studio listening session. Allen’s spirited trail of rural imagery made “Southern Nights” the song that felt like home.

“Lizz Wright and I have been friends for nearly fifteen years; I’ve hungered for the chance to stand in service to her as she sang, so powerful do I find the expression of her humanity. It was and remains an honor to have been Lizz’s scout along the journey of Grace. And in such dark times, we are all as musicians called to answer brutality with wild and inclusive beauty. When Lizz now sings, I am allowed to feel by extension that I am doing something of my part. What a gift that has been to me; what a gift she offers all.”
Joe Henry


Pre-listen to excerpts of this album.

New Lizz Wright album for end of the Summer

Italian Site Baritoday anounces that Lizz Wright her upcoming album, produced by Joe, will be released at the end of the summer.

"Nel Gioco del Jazz", la cantante americana Lizz Wright in concerto al Teatro Palazzo 12 febbraio 2017

„Al suo ritorno da un tour europeo nel novembre 2016, Lizz Wright è tornata in studio di registrazione con il produttore americano Joe Henry per il suo ultimo album la cui uscita è prevista per la fine dell'estate 2017.

After returning from her European Tour in November 2016, Lizz Wright returned to the recordingstudio together with producer Joe Henry for her new album, planned to be released at the end of the summer 2017. 

“

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Lizz Wright : Some pictures from the recording session

As told last year, Joe Henry is producing Lizz Wright's new album. I came across some pictures in the studio, dated 7 Weeks ago. You can find them on @ceebrew's Instagram.

Besides them there was also Jay Bellerose, David Piltch, Ryan Freeland, Kenny Banks, Marvin Sewell,  

First playback today.🌞 @lizzwrightmusic @joehenrymusic @rjfreeland #jaybellerose #marvinsewell #kennybanks

Een foto die door ceebrew is geplaatst op 14 Dec 2016 om 1:03 PST

Long lost newfound brothers from Chicago. Great honor exchanging musical ideas with brother Marvin Sewell this week. 🙏🏽 @lizzwrightmusic @joehenrymusic @rjfreeland #kennybanks  #jaybellerose  #davidpiltch

Een foto die door ceebrew is geplaatst op 15 Dec 2016 om 4:33 PST

Joe to produce Lizz Wright

The 'things to look forward' list is growing pretty fast...

In an article with Democrat & Chronicle American Jazz artist Lizz Wright announced that Joe will produce her next album.

“I realize Joe and I are at the far ends of the same road,” Wright says. “I work with rhythm, and what can you say without saying it. He is a craftsman with words.”

I personally find that a verry good reason to be looking forward to it. 2 Craftspeople blending their art. Wonderful.

Listen to Lizz Wright, doing Joe Henry's 'Stop'.


And being from Belgium, I'll give you a coöperation with Toots Thielemans.


Here is one more for the road.