Flashback Soul: Lizz Wright asks “Walk With Me Lord”

Share this article

    They say you never forget your first time.

    In 2003, I was mindlessly flipping channels on the TV remote and stumbled upon what appeared to be live coverage of the Newport Jazz Festival. The artist Lizz Wright, who was then unknown to me and probably to most others, was about to start a new song, so I paused a moment.  And within seconds I was absolutely stunned. Then just 23, Wright's poise, the effortless and graceful elegance of her singing, and the warm tone of her voice made me an immediate fan. Hers was then, and remains now, a special talent. 

    They say you never forget your first time.

    In 2003, I was mindlessly flipping channels on the TV remote and stumbled upon what appeared to be live coverage of the Newport Jazz Festival. The artist Lizz Wright, who was then unknown to me and probably to most others, was about to start a new song, so I paused a moment.  And within seconds I was absolutely stunned. Then just 23, Wright's poise, the effortless and graceful elegance of her singing, and the warm tone of her voice made me an immediate fan. Hers was then, and remains now, a special talent. 

    Wright was performing at Newport songs from her debut album, Salt,  which wowed critics and fans alike, and she has gone on to release 4 albums over these last 13 years, the most recent of which, Freedom & Surrender, reached  #1 on the Billboard Jazz chart.  Luckily, the Music Vault recently has uploaded Wright’s complete performance at Newport, and we can relive the first time I saw her compelling performance of the track “Walk With Me Lord.”  Enjoy.

    By Robb Patryk