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‘This And That’, Lizzy Parks’ second album on Tru Thoughts, is a fully acoustic, heart stopping affair. This & That flows between melodic, guitar-led ditties, and minimalistic moments of pure sonic bliss wrapped in expansive strings. Produced by Nostalgia 77, this stunning collection of new and exclusive acoustic material, interspersed with beautifully stripped back and re-imagined acoustic versions of songs from Parks’ acclaimed debut, is imbued with the characteristic playfulness, sense of romance and lightness of touch that set her apart as a singer-songwriter to watch. Illuminating a new side to Lizzy Parks’ musical personality, This And That’ sees this gifted singer-songwriter moving away from the full-bodied jazz band backing of her debut and into a spacious yet multi-textured acoustic terrain occupied by folksy finger-picked guitar, luxurious string themes and the occasional jazz-inspired flute trill, with room enough at the centre for her distinctively charming voice to roam and range. For a prime example of the purely instinctive and joyful way in which Lizzy Parks approaches her craft, track three, the magical “Deluge”, is a rework of the epic saxophone track by her musical hero Wayne Shorter; Lizzy’s version sees her putting evocative lyrics to the main melody, and twinning the notes of Shorter’s improvised sax solo - in this case played by Mark Hanslip – with an inspired vocalize, for a spine-tingling effect, at once both understated and bubbling over with drama. Producer Nostalgia 77, who has long been an integral part of the Lizzy Parks aesthetic, is gaining an enviable reputation as a collaborator and soundsmith of choice, recently producing a groundbreaking album with pioneering avant-garde musicians Keith and Julie Tippett, and enjoying ongoing success with his solo work and full live octet. Although Lizzy Parks is primarily regarded as a rising star of the jazz/soul scene, her sparkle, spontaneity and desire to mix her influences are a breath of fresh air and hold a much wider appeal, which is sure to come to public attention this summer with the release of ‘This And That’.
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