Lizz Wright

Thanks to her inimitable voice, American singer Lizz Wright has been one of the most highly regarded jazz vocalists of her generation since her widely acclaimed debut Salt was released in 2003. She is the daughter of a pastor and learned about music the old-fashioned way: by singing and playing gospel songs. In this way, she carries on the heritage of iconic singers like Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday, although she gives the genre a contemporary twist. On her recent album Grace, Wright returns to her roots and immerses the listener in a stream of gospel, blues, jazz, folk, soul, and pop. At the festival, Wright will perform with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra that has its roots in the classical music tradition. The orchestra is conducted by much-sought-after French conductor Bastien Stil.