| The Orchard | 
 enlarge | List Price: $13.98
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Avg. Customer Rating:   (based on 41 reviews)
Sales Rank: 3016
Category: Music
Artist: Lizz Wright
Publisher: Verve Forecast
Studio: Verve Forecast
Manufacturer: Verve Forecast
Label: Verve Forecast
Language: French (Unknown)
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 4.9 x 0.4
MPN: 001029202
UPC: 602517511262
EAN: 0602517511262
ASIN: B000Y14TXO
Release Date: February 26, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Coming Home | | • | My Heart | | • | I Idolize You | | • | Hey Mann | | • | Another Angel | | • | When I Fall | | • | Leave Me Standing Alone | | • | Speak Your Heart | | • | This Is | | • | Song For Mia | | • | Thank You | | • | Strange |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Album Description
Wright's collaboration with Craig Street continues on The Orchard. While her prior releases boasted contributions from some of the jazz world's most respected jazz players, The Orchard features an eclectic cast that includes noted singer/songwriter Toshi Reagon, who co-wrote several songs with Wright; Calexico members Joey Burns and John Convertino; avant-guitar hero Oren Bloedow; longtime Bob Dylan sideman Larry Campbell; Ollabelle member Glenn Patscha; and guest vocalists Catherine Russell and Marc Anthony Thompson (aka Chocolate Genius). The Orchard's fluid, intimate performances reflect the unpretentious spirit in which the music was created. The project actually began with a set of photographs taken by Wright in her rural hometown, focusing on the orchard of the title, a setting that she's known since childhood. That organic approach was maintained throughout the recording process, which took place at studios in upstate New York's Catskill mountains, in Tucson, Arizona and Brooklyn. The sessions emphasized spontaneity and chemistry. That rare ability to exist within the musical moment is one of the qualities that make Lizz Wright a special artist and The Orchard a career milestone. "This record was a huge learning experience, in every way, and I think it showed me a lot about myself," she states. "I never would have imagined that I would have written some of the things I wrote on this record, or told some of these stories. But I felt really free and I really let myself go, and I surprised myself."
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| Customer Reviews: Read 36 more reviews...
 Simply amazing ... June 1, 2009
I first heard about Lizz Wright while watching a segment on CBS one Sunday morning ... they played just a small part of "My Heart" and I was mesmerized by her haunting voice and words of this beautiful artist.
I have since given The Orchard as gifts to a few dear friends whom I feel would understand the depth of this deeply personal and moving collection of songs. I look forward to seeing her in person ... she is a gifted vocalist. Just listen ... and escape ... into the soul of Lizz Wright.
 The pickin's could be better in this "Orchard" May 1, 2009
It may sound like a trite observation, but a great voice alone does not make a great album. To create a great album, you need great material.
Lizz Wright has a voice as dark and refreshing as black coffee, but on "The Orchard" the material is a watery mix of unremarkable pop, gospel,and folk-derived songs.
There are stand-outs among them, to be sure. Ike Turner's steamy "I Idolize You" is done to perfection, and Patsy Cline's "Strange" is given a haunting, understated feeling.
None of the rest of the album does Wright justice. "Song for Mia" sounds like something that could come from the Indigo Girls. "Another Angel" seems to borrow from Stevie Wonder's "My Cherie Amour", and tunes like "My Heart", "Leave Me Standing Alone", and "This Is" veer uncomfortably close to the stylings of a pop diva like "Shakira".
For contrast, and a hint of what Lizz Wright is capable of, try listening to her belt out "Come Rain or Come Shine" on the Toots Thielemans album, "One More For the Road". There Wright outshines the other album guests like Madeline Peyroux and Oleta Adams...and that is saying something!
Wright needs to make a choice: does she want to do crossover pop, and mute her talents, or does she want to truly shine? The possiblities are endless for her--she could be another Anita Baker, Roberta Flack, or sassy Sarah Vaughan. It's all up to her and the road she chooses.
I hope this interlude in "The Orchard" is just a stop-over. She can do much better than this musical dilettantism.
 Get back to the jazz February 10, 2009
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
Sounds like bluegrass, almost from start to finish. Not feelin' it, really. Which is a shame, because her first album was absolute perfection, from the first tune to the last. The tracks on Salt were sufficiently diverse to keep listeners from pigeon-holing her. So why does she box herself into a corner with her sophomore effort? That said, Dreaming Wide Awake was tolerable; facilitates peaceful reflection and induces drowsiness when accompanied by a good book. The Orchard, however, makes me want my $$$ back. Branching out and diversifying as an artist is understandable and commendable. But dang! Isn't there enough diversity in jazz to fly around the world and back again musically? What's with the 4-chord effort? Get outta the Orchard and spend some more quality time in a speakeasy.
great new vocalist January 28, 2009
Great soulful sound. Interesting song selections. Hope more to come. Previous songs good too.
 Please! Put me out of my misery! January 18, 2009
1 out of 8 found this review helpful
This artist was yet another "must have" recommendation on CBS's Sunday Morning program. I was interested in getting to know some new artists, so selected this CD. My husband and I (patiently) played it while driving on summer vacation and it was so MISERABLE! I've tried listening to it several time and it doesn't get any better. Every song sounds the same: slow, crooning, boring! I think she was equated with the style of Tracy Chapman--there's no comparison; Tracey surpasses her all the way around. There's no funk; no spark; no fun in this at all. What a letdown. Don't waste your money. In fact, if I could get my money back, I sure would!
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