Lizz Wright + Kenny Banks Sr. – The Nearness of You
Today, jazz vocalist and songwriter Lizz Wright, together with acclaimed pianist Kenny Banks Sr., released the new single “The Nearness of You,” from their forthcoming duo jazz album, Nearness.
Set to release on September 25, 2026, on Blues & Greens Records and Candid Records, the 11-track LP of standards and spirituals serves as an intimate showcase of each artist’s talent, as well as their creative connection.
Serving as the album’s opener and title inspiration, “The Nearness of You” is an expansive reading of Hoagy Carmichael’s timeless ballad. The standard has orbited Wright’s career for over a decade, most notably taking root during the Apollo Theater’s 100: The Apollo
Celebrates Ella tribute concert in October 2016. Shared on Wright’s Facebook and premiered by PopMatters, the duo’s video performance went on to reach over one million viewers on Facebook. Revisiting the song alongside Banks again a decade later, Wright brings a warm, insightful perspective to the classic, centering on how the simple presence of a kindred soul can reshape how we view ourselves and share our gifts.
Lizz Wright shares, “I’m excited to be able to use that one word to explore concepts of love and closeness that are not often mentioned. I’m celebrating not just a teacher here, but a great platonic love.”
“The Nearness of You” follows the release of the stunning single “Soon I Will Be Done,” a courageous take on the landmark spiritual. Expanding on her fresh interpretations, Wright adds, “it feels like taking old tools out of a museum and running them along a grinder and getting them sharp again and shiny. If I do my part in taking them out of historical reference mode, I really can bring something new to them.”
Produced by longtime musical director and esteemed guitarist Chris Bruce, Nearness reveals deep kinship and trust in the forms of Banks’ signature arrangements, which serve as an architectural frame for Wright’s profound delivery.
The trusted collaborators met decades ago at a jam session in Atlanta and quickly bonded on the strength of their shared background in the church and interests in swinging jazz, R&B, and other music. Recalling his first impressions of Wright, Banks says, “You know when you hear people say, ‘You’ve got that thing’? She always had that thing. She’s just got a presence that commands your attention.”
They have since worked together on releases Banks is central to Wright’s catalogue as he appears on other releases, including Salt (Verve, 2003), and acclaimed records such as Dreaming Wide Awake (Universal Music Group, 2005), The Orchard (Universal Music Group, 2008), Fellowship (Universal Music Group, 2010), Freedom & Surrender (Concord, 2016), Grace (Concord, 2017), and Shadow (Blues & Greens Records, 2024).
TOUR DATES
October 21, 2026 – Kulturetage – Oldenburg, Germany*
October 22, 2026 – Stadschouwburg – Sint-Niklaas, Belgium*
October 24, 2026 – De Doelen – Rotterdam, Netherlands*
October 25, 2026 – De Oosterpoort – Groningen, Netherlands*
October 26, 2026 – Muffathalle – Munich, Germany*
October 28, 2026 – Centralstation – Darmstadt, Germany*
October 29, 2026 – Enjoy Jazz Festival – Heidelberg, Germany*
October 30, 2026 – Teatro Albéniz Madrid – Madrid, Spain*
November 1, 2026 – Stadthalle Koln-Mulheim Julich – Cologne, Germany*
November 3, 2026 – Kammermusiksaal – Berlin, Germany*
November 4, 2026 – Enter Music Festival – Poznan, Poland*
November 5, 2026 – Wojciech Kilar Polish Philharmonic “Sinfonia Baltica” – Slupsk, Poland*
November 7, 2026 – Cosmopolite Scene – Oslo, Norway*
November 13, 2026 – Jazz Voice Gala 2026 – Royal Festival Hall – London United Kingdom^
November 14, 2026 – Saffron Hall – Walden, United Kingdom^
November 15, 2026 – Cadogan Hall – London, UK^
April 22, 2027 – De Singel – Antwerpen, Belgium^
April 27, 2027 – Martinskirche – Basel, Switzerland^
May 7, 2027 – Sheldon Concert Hall – St. Louis, MO*
^duo show with Kenny Banks Sr.
*full band show
#lizzwrightmusic #bankssr.kenny