Wright remains a mystery inside an enigma wrapped in that gorgeously self-contained contralto. Her radio-friendly, highly polished first albums revealed that voice, but rarely pushed listeners beyond their comfort zone. This was dinner jazz par excellence. Paradoxically, however, by dropping most “jazz” pretensions, Wright has produced her most satisfying album. Firstly she’s taken a step up in her song writing, largely in collaboration with Toshi Reagon.

While maintaining that gospel-informed, choral-disciplined voice, she’s taken on rawer arrangements: the opening ‘Coming Home’ has the resonance of a primal ‘Wayfaring Stranger’; yet by contrast ‘Another Angel’ has a country feel that is all the stronger for Wright reining in the emotions. The covers, too, surprise: Led Zep’s ballad ‘Thank You’ (replete with Nicky Hopkins-esque piano) is surprisingly rousing, Patsy Cline’s ‘Strange’ is suitably spacey, yet heartfelt.

The arrangements are spare, solos rare, the feel very much of an intimate bar when the punters have gone home; this is intelligently elegant, soul-driven jazz-country
par excellence. Andy Robson

This review is from Jazzwise Issue #118 to our full section and receive a Free CD Subscribe Here...