The second time a track from Nearness lands in the track of the week spot. It is also top track of 2026 I reckon. To the tune of ‘New Britain’ from 1835 when it was so paired by William Walker in The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion, the words of this for the ages John Newton hymn go further back to the Eighteenth Century. It’s a remarkable performance vocally by the great jazz and gospel influenced American singer Wright, who first burst on to a wider consciousness with Salt more than 20 years ago. The daughter of a church minister herself, this musical pairing with the authoritative pianist Banks Sr of the Cascade United Methodist Church in Atlanta – Lizz’s home state of Georgia – makes perfect sense and pays artistic dividends over and over again the more you listen
When we’ve been there ten thousand years
John Newton
Bright, shining as the sun
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’ve first begun
Soon I Will Be Done is an earlier track of the week on marlbank
More on Nearness from which both tracks are drawn
Nearness (Blues & Greens/Candid, 25 September) moves between spirituals and standards – including ‘All The Things You Are’, ‘Deep River’ and the title track – framed by a stripped-back approach that places voice and piano/organ interplay at the centre. In contrast to the fuller arrangements of Shadow (2024), the focus here is on clarity and restraint.
More from marlbank. It only begins when you listen
