Album Notes

SAN FRANCISCO — LZPhoenix, a San Francisco duo with a hot six piece band — fresh off a molten performance at San Francisco’s Exotic Erotic Ball — announced today the release of their second CD, “Standing Wide Legged and Proud.” The Duo and Group Described as “Sly and Family Stone Meets The Talking Heads” Releases 12-song Collection “Standing Wide Legged and Proud”

LZPhoenix is female vocalist LZ Love, vocalist/percussionist/guitarist Phoenix and their band. The two met while both were singers in the highly respected Glide Ensemble at San Francisco’s Glide Memorial Church, led by the Rev. Cecil Williams. “LZ is a true singer and has a voice like no one I’ve ever heard,” said Rev. Williams. “She is a real diva, ready for success.”

While sharing the excitement of performing at Glide, LZ and Phoenix decided to share their common interest in songwriting as well. In 2001 they released their first CD, “One,” a fusion of Blues, Latin, Pop, R&B and Rock ‘n’ Roll that features nine of their original tunes and guest appearances by blues guitar ace Tommy Castro.

LZ and Phoenix co-wrote all 12 songs on “Standing Wide Legged and Proud”. It opens with “Spy,” which immediately grabs the listener’s attention with its joyous funk groove, brilliant harmonies by LZ and Phoenix, and a searing guitar solo by Raven Adams. “Spy” is reminiscent of Sly and the Family Stone’s hits, and could easily be just as successful as a single. This opening track hints at what to expect from the other 11 songs. They are all positive, all a bit different than what one would expect from funk or gospel, all percolating with different colors of percussion, keyboards and guitars behind powerful emotive voices that get in your face and make you glad they did.

LZ’s voice stands out on the second track “Baby I’ll Talk to You” even before she sings a note. The song opens with her very sexy bedroom voice, not a bit over the top but very natural and real. Backed by deep bass and more flavors of both thundering and delicate percussion with a relentless tick-tock bounce, LZ serves notice that she is woman to pay attention to. Throughout the CD, her voice is soulful and sexy and gymnastic — she can take a short word like “in” and extrude four heartfelt notes from it — but there’s much more to her. Her emotions come across clean, clear, hot and very sincere. LZ no doubt means every word she sings.

The pair and their group are masters at combining the inspirational and spirit-elevating qualities of gospel with other influences in several songs including ”Lift Me Up” and “Florida Said,” a rambunctious song about LZ’s mother featuring a collage of combing and colliding guitars. Here, her voice is as compelling as Aretha Franklin, and one has to wonder how LZ has gone undiscovered until today.

Phoenix takes the lead as LZ harmonizes on “All These Days,” with a “Magical Mystery Tour” atmosphere, which sounds like it could have been arranged by Beatles’ producer George Martin.

This CD is a great one for those who appreciate top-notch players as well as unsurpassed singing. Raven Adams contributes a brilliant extended guitar solo on “I’ll Confide,” reminiscent of Dave Mason’s work on his classic “Alone Together” album. Eric McCann delivers solid and creative bass work throughout, with bursts of innovation when the song calls for it. On keyboards, J Wood and Jim Talley join John Lee Sanders to provide a rainbow of textures ranging from church-like Hammond organ to Motown, grinding R&B and beyond. This band gels like they’ve been playing the clubs till 4:00 a.m. for years. “Standing Wide Legged and Proud” is a collection that will appeal across many tastes and age groups.


If the critics’ reviews thus far are any indication, LZ Phoenix has a lot to look forward to. Joseph Jordan in Southland Blues magazine wrote:

“With a voice as spiritual as a Sunday church meeting and compelling as the best of Motown divas, LZ continues to show her remarkable talents as a deeply soulful vocalist to a world gone weary with teen-pop and industrial post-punk noise. LZ is a vocalist supreme and provides here a true return to what singing can be about.”

"Standing Wide Legged and Proud" is available at www.cdbaby.com and www.lzphoenix.com. For more information on LZPhoenix, please visit www.lzphoenix.com.