Vivian Sessoms, the critically-acclaimed songstress known for her rich, melodic and captivatingly soulful vocals, returns to Feinstein’s at Loews Regency, 540 Park Avenue at 61st Street, for another highly-anticipated performance entitled "Heart" on April 22, 2012 at 8:30pm (dining begins at 6pm) [$25 cover, $25 minimum food & beverage].
"Heart" will showcase various song renditions that Vivian considers “some of the most beautiful love songs ever written, old and new.” It will include covers by Burt Bacharach, Elvis Costello, The Weepies, Badly Drawn Boy, Barry Manilow, Grace Jones, and Tammi Terrell, as well as a few original songs and Vivian’s personal arrangement of Rob Thomas’ “Unwell” with Matchbox 20.
Sessoms will again be accompanied by an all-star band for "Heart". In the band: Chris Parks - acoustic & electric bass, acoustic guitar (Amel Larrieux, Roberta Flack, Sheila E.); Michael Mancini – piano & keyboards (Eric Clapton, Sheryl Crow, Mary J. Blige, Bruce Springsteen, Phoebe Snow); Eric Brown – drums & percussion (Rachelle Ferrell, Lala Hathaway, Deborah Cox); and Noam Dworman – acoustic & electric guitar, mandolin (owner of The Village Underground, former owner of The Café Wha/Café Feenjon, NYC).
Born and raised in Harlem, Vivian learned the wonder of music at an early age. Her mother was a session/jingle-singer, her father a flautist/percussionist (who's played with the likes of James Brown), and she is the niece of jazz legend Nancy Wilson. Surrounded by nightclubs, churches and regular jam sessions at her family’s home, she was already singing by the time she could talk. “Growing up, there was always music to express the way I was feeling. I was so immersed in it, that I kind of viewed music as a backdrop to my life,” she recalls. As a teen, she was approached by Melba Moore, Teddy Riley and Stevie Wonder to perform alongside them. She then went on to work with Joe Cocker, Rob Thomas, P!nk, Patti Austin, Patti LaBelle, Sinead O'Connor and most recently Cher to name a few. She has been a featured vocalist for jazz artist Chris Botti, composer Ryuichi Sakamoto (Yellow Magic Orchestra, High Heels, Little Buddha)and Towa Tei (international DJ and former member of music group Dee-Lite). Not content to stop there however, Vivian soon began to write and produce for Lalah Hathaway, Amel Larrieux, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Jeff Kashiwa, David Morales, Towa Tei and Junior Vazquez among others and had a feature song in the film “Moonlight Serenade” starring Amy Adams & Alec Newman.
In 2007, Vivian along with writing partner Chris Parks released a debut CD “Sunny One Day” (under the moniker of Albright for Vivian’s maternal grandmother) to very impressive reviews. Vivian is now putting the finishing touches on the follow up CD “Heart”, a jazz record that will feature some folk and soul, and a third CD “Radiant” that will feature pop and soul music. Both records are scheduled for release summer of 2012.
Read more: http://cabaret.broadwayworld.com/article/Vivian-Sessoms-Returns-With-HEART-to-Feinsteins-at-Loews-Regency-422-20120420#ixzz1shq9WvfJ
-BBW News Desk
vivian sessoms: press
GET ON THE
Day Three: WEEK OF VIVIAN SESSOMS
April 19, 2012
tags: Bahamadia, Feinstein's, Happy, Heart, Loews Regency, Radiant, Sound Museum, Towa Tei, Vivian Sessoms, Week of Vivian Sessoms
And we’re back! Day Three of the Week of Vivian Sessoms. Did you know that besides being a celebrated background vocalist, Ms. Sessoms is also a renowned producer? From commercial jingles to popular mainstream albums, Vivian has been in the production booth, making things happen. And while we’re on the topic of making things happen, be on the lookout for not one, but two projects from her this year. Heart, will be a jazz/acoustic album full of instrumentation (acoustic guitar, piano, mandolin, banjo, lap steel, horns and strings). It definitely sounds like an interesting mix. And Radiant, a dance pop/ r&b affair, with some fun stuff on there, a few power ballads, and some heavier-hitting r&b tracks. And, it’s rumored that a rock album will be on the way eventually. She’s a hard worker, that Vivian Sessoms.
And lest we forget, she has a show on Sunday night. Feinstein’s at Loews Regency. Details are below. A night out with Vivian Sessoms, old-school hotel venue, great love songs… it’ll be like in the movies. Get dressed up and go enjoy yourself.
Today’s video is “Happy” from Towa Tei‘s Sound Museum album, featuring Vivian Sessoms and Bahamadia. Written by Tei, Sessoms and Bahamadia.
-Joseph Rileyland
BLACK 2 BROADWAY PRODUCTIONS
B2Hotlist: #63
Greetings Community,
The weather is warming up and so are some great shows this season. I’m happy to let you know of some of those shows below. As I always say please make your reservations in advance, this helps more than you know. Finally feel free to pass this information on to your individual lists and social media’s and I’ll see you all behind the lights.
As Always,
Kevin-Anthony
http://about.me/kevinanthony
Come check out the gifted vocalist, Vivian Sessom this coming Sunday, April 22nd 8:30pm at Feintein’s. Vivian is such an electrifying performer and I’m thrilled to be sharing the stage with her as a special guest. So come on out to a beautiful room, hear some gorgeous music and let’s have a great time.
-Kevin Anthony
NIGHTLIFE CULTURE INC.
NCI is proud to announce a new program that spotlights the people who bring creative energy to New York Nightlife
VIVIAN SESSOMS
Vivian is a New York gem who has performed with a wide range of A-List talent including Diddy, Michael Jackson, Cher, Joe Cocker, Chris Botti and Pink. Her previous albums as part of the group Albright have gained critical acclaim in independent music circles and her voice has been heard live around the world. She’s bringing her sound back to New York in 2012 with live performances and a new album, so she definitely needs to be on your music discovery radar.
Genre: Jazz/ Soul
Hometown: Harlem, New York
Inspirations: Roberta Flack, Barbara Streisand, Chaka Khan, Patti Labelle, Alison Krauss, Aretha Franklin, Natalie Cole
Previous Performances: BAM, Village Underground, Rockwood Music Hall, Jazz Standard, Blue Note and Radio City Music Hall.
Latest Project: Heart (scheduled for release Summer 2012)
Next Local Performance: Sunday April 22, 2012 at Feinstein’s at Loews Regency
-Gamal Hennessy
Vivian Sessoms Returns to Feinstein’s to Give You Her “Heart”
(New York, NY — April 3, 2012) — Vivian Sessoms, the critically-acclaimed songstress known for her rich, melodic and captivatingly soulful vocals, returns to Feinstein’s at Loews Regency, 540 Park Avenue at 61st Street, for another highly-anticipated performance entitled “Heart” on April 22, 2012 at 8:30pm (dining begins at 6pm) [$25 cover, $25 minimum food & beverage]
“Heart” will showcase various song renditions that Vivian considers “some of the most beautiful love songs ever written, old and new.” It will include covers by Burt Bacharach, Elvis Costello, The Weepies, Badly Drawn Boy, Barry Manilow, Grace Jones, and Tammi Terrell, as well as a few original songs and Vivian‘s personal arrangement of Rob Thomas‘ “Unwell” with Matchbox 20 . (see video clip below)
Sessoms’ 2011 debut performance at Feinstein’s received rave reviews:
“It is always such a fantastic surprise when a new artist comes to Feinstein’s and just blows the roof off with their talent. Vivian was one of those artists and we were thrilled to have her here.” –Feinstein’s Management
“When Vivian Sessoms erupts onto the stage with a robust, funky arrangement of “Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Baby?” (Louis Jordan), my pen abandons words for exclamation points…This is a formidably talented performer with a fierce band.” — Cabaret Scenes
Sessoms will again be accompanied by an all-star band for “Heart”. In the band: Chris Parks – acoustic & electric bass, acoustic guitar (Amel Larrieux, Roberta Flack, Sheila E.); Michael Mancini — piano & keyboards (Eric Clapton, Sheryl Crow, Mary J. Blige, Bruce Springsteen, Phoebe Snow); Eric Brown — drums & percussion (Rachelle Ferrell, Lala Hathaway, Deborah Cox); and Noam Dworman — acoustic & electric guitar, mandolin (owner of The Village Underground, former owner of The Cafe Wha/Cafe Feenjon, NYC).
PERFORMANCE CLIPS
Feinstein’s 2011 = Is You Is or Is You Ain’t My Baby
Rob Thomas’ homage to Vivian’s rendition of Unwell
Feinstein’s 2011 = Cherchez La Femme
ABOUT VIVIAN SESSOMS
Born and raised in Harlem, Vivian learned the wonder of music at an early age. Her mother was a session/jingle-singer, her father a flautist/percussionist (who’s played with the likes of James Brown), and she is the niece of jazz legend Nancy Wilson.
Surrounded by nightclubs, churches and regular jam sessions at her family’s home, she was already singing by the time she could talk. “Growing up, there was always music to express the way I was feeling. I was so immersed in it, that I kind of viewed music as a backdrop to my life”, she recalls.
As a teen, she was approached by Melba Moore, Teddy Riley and Stevie Wonder to perform alongside them. She then went on to work with Joe Cocker, Rob Thomas, P!nk, Patti Austin, Patti Labelle, Sinead O’Connor and most recently Cher to name a few. She has been a featured vocalist for jazz artist Chris Botti, composer Ryuichi Sakamoto (Yellow Magic Orchestra, High Heels, Little Buddha)and Towa Tei (international DJ and former member of music group Dee-Lite).
Not content to stop there however, Vivian soon began to write and produce for Lalah Hathaway, Amel Larrieux, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Jeff Kashiwa, David Morales, Towa Tei and Junior Vazquez among others and had a feature song in the film “Moonlight Serenade” starring Amy Adams & Alec Newman. In 2007, Vivian along with writing partner Chris Parks released a debut CD “Sunny One Day” (under the moniker of Albright for Vivian’s maternal grandmother) to very impressive reviews.
Vivian is now putting the finishing touches on the follow up CD “Heart”, a jazz record that will feature some folk and soul, and a third CD “Radiant” that will feature pop and soul music. Both records are scheduled for release in 2012.
For ticket information visit Feinstein’s ticket purchase info:
http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=4356575
For press inquiries, please contact: Katrina Boswell — Katrina@katwalkmedia.com.
-GFM Events
"When Vivian Sessoms erupts onto the stage with a robust, funky arrangement of “Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Baby?” (Louis Jordan), my pen abandons words for exclamation points. In “Back to Black” (Amy Winehouse/Mark Ronson), her gutsy, hard-charging voice, colluding with one of the best horn sections I’ve heard, sends shivers up the spine: “You went back to what you knew/So far removed from all that we went through/And I tread a troubled track/My odds are stacked/I'll go back to black”. Sessoms dismantles the poor sod in the song.
“Tenderly” (Walter Gross/Jack Lawrence) and “Willow Weep for Me” (Ann Ronell) are well placed to shift set energy. Eyes closed, nose crinkled, the performer offers a jazzy rendition of the first, which sashays around its melody. Soulful piano and sax solos enhance the sway.
Tim Ries (sax), who also did the arrangement, moves as if puppeted by the heady music…like Keith Jarrett at his piano. During “Willow…,” Mark McGowan (trumpet) unleashes a terrific inner Gabriel, barely visibly filling his cheeks (with air). (It’s a wonder.) Sessoms can taffy-pull a consonant like Tina Turner or purposefully omit one like Dinah Washington. She has skill, range and, later, gives us a taste of excellent, fluid scat.
A rousing hot-damn-cry-out-clap-‘n’-stomp-let ’em-rip “Cherchez la Femme” (A. Darnell/ S.Browder, Jr. for Dr.Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band) provokes people at the back to wave arms or napkins; others infectiously sing—yes—they pipe up from the room. “It pays to have friends who sing.” Texturally dynamic—there’s that fabulous brass again—its primitive, processional rhythm sees Sessoms bump, shimmy and parade joyfully among the tables. A zesty version of “Love Has Fallen on Me” (Andrew Lloyd Webber/Charles Stepney) successfully utilizes more of her professional friends on back-up.
This is a formidably talented performer with a fierce band.
Alix Cohen - Cabaret Scenes
PETER MARTIN LIVE AT THE SHELDON CONCERT HALL FEATURING VIVIAN SESSOMS.
Pianist Peter Martin will resume his eponymous series at the Sheldon Concert Hall with a performance featuring guest vocalist Vivian Sessoms (pictured) at 8:00 p.m., Saturday, March 10. Bassist Bob Hurst and drummer Ulysses Owens will join Martin and Sessoms for the show.
Sessoms is a native New Yorker who's been performing professionally since she was a child, but got her first widespread exposure as a grown-up through working with film composer Ryuichi Sakamoto. Since then, she's developed a solo career as a cabaret performer, and has recorded and/or toured as a background singer with the likes of P. Diddy, Michael Jackson, Donna Summer, Sinead O'Connor, Stevie Wonder and Lalah Hathaway. Sessoms also has sung on many national commericals as a session vocalist, and most recently has partnered in the neo-soul group Albright with multi-instrumentalist/producer Chris Parks.
Tickets are $50 for VIP seating, $30 orchestra, $25 balcony and $15 students, and will go on sale at 10:00 a.m. this Monday, January 23 via MetroTix.
Dean Minderman - St. Louis Jazz Notes
"When Vivian Sessoms erupts onto the stage with a robust, funky arrangement of “Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Baby?” (Louis Jordan), my pen abandons words for exclamation points. In “Back to Black” (Amy Winehouse/Mark Ronson), her gutsy, hard-charging voice, colluding with one of the best horn sections I’ve heard, sends shivers up the spine: “You went back to what you knew/So far removed from all that we went through/And I tread a troubled track/My odds are stacked/I'll go back to black”. Sessoms dismantles the poor sod in the song.
“Tenderly” (Walter Gross/Jack Lawrence) and “Willow Weep for Me” (Ann Ronell) are well placed to shift set energy. Eyes closed, nose crinkled, the performer offers a jazzy rendition of the first, which sashays around its melody. Soulful piano and sax solos enhance the sway.
Tim Ries (sax), who also did the arrangement, moves as if puppeted by the heady music…like Keith Jarrett at his piano. During “Willow…,” Mark McGowan (trumpet) unleashes a terrific inner Gabriel, barely visibly filling his cheeks (with air). (It’s a wonder.) Sessoms can taffy-pull a consonant like Tina Turner or purposefully omit one like Dinah Washington. She has skill, range and, later, gives us a taste of excellent, fluid scat.
A rousing hot-damn-cry-out-clap-‘n’-stomp-let ’em-rip “Cherchez la Femme” (A. Darnell/ S.Browder, Jr. for Dr.Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band) provokes people at the back to wave arms or napkins; others infectiously sing—yes—they pipe up from the room. “It pays to have friends who sing.” Texturally dynamic—there’s that fabulous brass again—its primitive, processional rhythm sees Sessoms bump, shimmy and parade joyfully among the tables. A zesty version of “Love Has Fallen on Me” (Andrew Lloyd Webber/Charles Stepney) successfully utilizes more of her professional friends on back-up.
This is a formidably talented performer with a fierce band.
Alix Cohen - Cabaret Scenes
The soulful and sultry singer, Vivian Sesssoms will be live in concert on Sunday, August 7, 2011 at Feinsteins at the Loews Regency in New York. Vivian Sessoms has been called a young Tina Turner, and has sung alongside of music’s talented like Chaka Khan, Cher, Dionne Warwick, Pink and Stevie Wonder. This event is $25.00 in advance and $35.00 at the door.
This is a concert you do not want to miss!
-Uptown Magazine
TRAVELING WITHOUT MOVING..
Nothing transports you faster than music.
From New York's underground dance scene to Central America's Afro-Cuban enclave, here's who's hot now.
Albright, Featuring Vivian Sessoms
Sunny One Day (Baby Buddha)
Background singers with enough star power to release solo efforts never seem to stay long in the spotlight. Remember Lisa Fischer (Luther Vandross), N'Dambi (Erykah Badu), and Trey Lorenz (Mariah Carey)?
They all came with heavily endorsed debuts and then...nothing. This shouldn't be the case for New Yorker Vivian Sessoms, one powerful half of the duo Albright, who's been working behind the scenes with some of music's most respected names: Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Patti Austin, and Lalah Hathaway. With a touch of smooth jazz production, Albright's debut album, Sunny One Day, gives this singer-songwriter's heralded vocals free range over her partner Chris Parks's blend of soul. Feel the chemistry on 'Tainted (Love)', an intoxicating track drunk with hypnotic drum beats and Sessoms' gentle mix of R&B and gospel; 'In Between Worlds', a touching song about acceptance that's as topical as it is sweet; and 'Luv U', a lover's letter of all the things we can never hear enough of.
Willie C. Alaman - Uptown
HIDDEN GEMS
ALBRIGHT featuring Vivian Sessoms, "Sunny One Day" (Baby Buddha Records):
Albright comprises singer/songwriter Sessoms and musician/writer/producer Chris Parks, who have worked with R&B singer Lalah Hathaway and jazz artist Khani Cole. Together, the pair also operate Brooklyn-based SuprDupr Sound, through which they have written and produced for "American Idol" contestant Mario Vazquez and composed jingles for such clients as Volvo and Subaru. On this album, Sessoms' clear, exquisite voice (which has backed Patti Austin, P-Diddy and Rob Thomas) shimmers against a percolating R&B/jazz backdrop.
Repeat worthy tracks: "Dunno' What", "Tainted (Love)", "Sunny One Day" and "Fadin' Out".
Gail Mitchell - Billboard.
LOVE THOSE LADIES...
Vivian Sessoms (Baby Buddha Records) You've probably heard her more than seen her, but Vivian Sessoms is a veteran of commercial jingles for some of the worlds favorite products: Campbell's Soup, Hershey's Chocolate, Coke, Adidas, Dark & Lovely, and Walt Disney, among others. The talented singer, who is also a critically-acclaimed writer, producer and arranger, is set to release a debut CD, Sunny One Day with her group Albright.
Albright featuring Vivian Sessoms/ Sunny One Day (Baby Buddha Records)
WE have to support our independent artists, and one of the best is featured on this album. Vivian Sessoms' voice captivates her audience. She and her voice have backed many musical greats such as Michael Jackson, Rob Thomas and Cher to name a few. She has finally come into her own with Sonny One Day. The words are well written and the melodies well arranged. A favorite is track #3, "Love Can Turn You Around", with it's insightful lyrics: "Love can make you sit down and think about tomorrow". Insight foreshadows that with her soulful vocal prowess, Sessoms will thrive on the music scene for many tomorrows to come
Valerie D. Young - Hype Hair
Albright featuring Vivian Sessoms debut, 'Sunny One Day' is also from Soul Brother Records and is way more like it. Albright is actually a New York duo - of Vivian Sessoms and multi-instrumentalist/engineer and Berklee graduate Chris Parks - a pairing that you may have noticed amongst the credits of Lalah Hathaway's 'Outrun The Sky', where they contributed 3 tunes. This album came together on and off over the past three years, a perfectionist's timetable that accounts for the high quality of the songwriting throughout as well as the standard of performance, as they slide about between neo, jazzy tinged soul and some decidedly poppier furrows. A bit Simpson without the Ashford in places, perhaps. He Who Knows, which swirls around a strolling bassline and guitar solo is my fave but there's plenty more to choose from.
Chris Wells - Echoes UK
echoes uk/nov 2007
- SUNNY ONE DAY Review
Albright is the duo of Harlem-born singer Vivian Sessoms and Bronx-bred multi-instrumentalist/engineer Chris Parks (the name Albright is a nod to Sessoms' grandmother's maiden name). For the past decade, they have made attention-grabbing music in everything from commercials and video games to three standout songs from Lalah Hathaway's Outrun the Sky. Finally bowing as artists in their own right, the team took their sweet time to craft a profoundly impressive debut, crafting a project so polished yet effortless sounding it's as if it bonds to your DNA and defies you to stop playing it. As addictive as Pinkberry, Sunny One Day is a fortified confection of spell-casting tracks and layered vocals laced through universally relatable musings and snapshots of love and life. Sessoms' voice is a malleable wonder that rhapsodically floats from ageless soul shouts to intuitive jazz phrasing to spontaneous pop pep. And though they've served up a generous and usually prohibitive 14 songs, you can't believe that each succeeding one is as good, or better, than the one before. Truly an album project in all-around quality, cohesion, confession and conscience, Sunny One Day renders picking singles pointless, though I'm partial to "It's Alright," "He Who Knows," "Ghettoland," "Luv U" and "Heroin."
"What a mind-blowing surprise – Albright's Sunny One Day is the most unexpected out-of-left-field slice of lyrical, musical and aural perfection since Aya’s Strange Flower and a qualifier for Best of 2007."
A. Scott Galloway - Urban Network
Albright featuring Vivian Sessoms - Sunny One Day
When Chris Parks met Vivian Sessoms over 10 years ago, the pair sharpened each other’s writing and production talents and made their mark on the music industry, successfully orchestrating songs for Lalah Hathaway and composing jingles for companies like Hanes and Dark & Lovely. On their debut release, Sunny One Day, the duo delivers 14 tracks of soulful, pop-influenced hits. Up-tempo beats, solid ballads and exceptional lyrics make this album an instant classic and a satisfying gift for fans who’ve been anxiously awaiting its release. -
Adam Jones - Rolling Out
Check it out..
We've been featured this month on Billboard Undergrounds artist to watch.
Thanks to our friends over at Billboard, Alex, Kristina & the rest of the gang.
'Sunny One Day' advance review..
The first track from Albright's Sunny One Day release is entitled "Dunno' What." Well I dunno about you dear reader, but this is organic soul stripped down to it's bare essentials and it sounds superb!
Lead singer Vivian Sessoms has a voice that is beautiful, loved, and blessed. And the band? More on them in just a second.
Soft Cell's early 1980's classic "Tainted Love" gets smacked, flipped, and rubbed down into a funky 21st century number called "Tainted", while the following track, "Love Can Turn You Around", is a beautiful ode to love in it's purest form.
Now about that band. Can you say bad? In the words of the immortal Run-DMC: "not bad meaning bad/ but bad meaning good!" With brilliant production from Sessoms and guitarist Chris Parks, Albright has a sweet, melodic sound that doesn't get caught in one place too long. They come out of left field with the rock-influenced "Oh Baby" and then bring it down just a touch on "In Between Worlds," with an emphasis on the bass. Vivian then takes you on a lyrical tour of "Ghettoland" and follows with the soothing "Love You". The band brings it on home with the stunning closer, "Fadin' Out".
Quite simply, add Albright's Sunny One Day this to your collection. It is a great combination of quality production and out-of-this-world vocals, and is a great new find for soul music lovers.
Christopher Whaley - Soul Tracks
LIFE & SOUL PROMOTIONS
This is a bit of a side issue before I get on to the review but last year I went To Joe's Pub principally to see my friend Stephanie McKay at a thing that Roberta Flack was hosting. Top of the bill was Sherrod and Jerry Barnes and their musicianship was exceptional, so on opening this package and seeing that Sherrod featured prominantly I knew the production, feel and musicianship would be good. The album also features Heavy's Casey Benjamin who guested that night as well, along with friend of the site Eric Brown of Black-I. Looking at Albright's website there is a picture of Vivian with Roberta Flack, so my guess is that she was there that night and we were very close!, as I have a similar picture that I took of Roberta with Steve Wallace.
Anyway, enough about all that but suffice to say this album Albright, Chris Parks, instrumentalist and Vivian Sessoms, principally vocals is very strong indeed. Faultless production with fine musicians, well structured compositions and excellent vocals.
The first track that really fired me was Love Can Turn You Around is a stunning ballad which allows the vocals to ooze soulfully above a fairly sparse backing, building into a wonderful ending.
It's Alright is just a tad more upbeat on what is essentially a mellow downbeat album, vocals come across huskier and earthier. Oh Baby starts off very harmonically then includes some heavyish guitar work & becomes fairly rock orientated.
Sunny One Day, I wouldn't particularly say that being the title track, it is the strongest track, but that said it is very nice indeed, with quite a bit going on and a hook that runs around in your head, and an optimistic lyric.
He Who Knows, is nice, very much structured around the vocals and the story - one of those tracks that you could get lost in when performed live, accompanied by some excellent guitar, and Nicky of Heavy crops up to.
Ghettoland is altogether funkier, bass heavy, and harsher vocals and certainly a feature track. Heroin' is another of the 'harder' tracks, strong vocals over a strong stripped down beat, but the song really builds. Faith is a catchy thing which I really quite like.
The version of Tainted Love (called Tainted) is mellowed right down, and has a certain knowingness, personally not too keen but maybe it's because the song has been ruined for me (in UK Soul Circles especially) by over exposure (and that's Gloria Jones, and not the excrutiating pop version). The best I can see is that Albright stamps their own mark on it and gave it some kind of originality. The closing track Fading Out is also a highlight
This is a long album, lots of different styles both musically and lyrically. There is therefore lots to take in, and the excellence of the production means that you will keep revisiting it to take in all the different nuances, and go back to tracks that you might on first hearing have discarded. Recommended.
Life & Soul Reviews - Mike Ashley
It's a beautiful day at Bert Ferguson Park in Cordova...nice breeze...not many people here. My friend Janci, her son Javi, and I decided to just chill out today. I am sitting here on the swings thinking there couldn't be a better way to do a music review.
Today's lucky artists are Albright featuring Vivian Sessoms, and the CD in question has been named "Sunny One Day". This duo is made up of Chris Parks and Vivian Sessoms. Vivian is a native of Harlem, NY. She has been in the music business for years doing everything from commercial jingles to singing background for the likes of Michael Jackson, Cher, and Pink just to name a few.
The two have written and produced for Lalah Hathaway and Chris Parks has also played bass for Amel Larrieux, Rashaan Patterson, George Duke and Patti Austin.
When the two met at a recording session where Vivian was to be a guest on the upcoming CD, who would have known that the two would later form the "BLACK CHERRI" production company. Black Cherri has produced and written for a number of artist in addition to commercial jingles for such clients as Canon, Cover Girl, Volvo, Dark and Lovely and X-Box.
"Sunny One Day" is a beautiful 14 track CD. The first single that was released entitled "Dunno What" has a nice "hip dip" melody. This track is simply about a person that is in love, but seems a bit surprised at their feelings. Somehow they come to terms and appreciate this emotion before the track ends. Another song I was really diggin' was track two: "Tainted". Whew, I don't know how many times I have used this word but Albright is giving it a different meaning than I normally do. The beat to this song is so funky and it may easily be recognized as the same beat of Slum Village's "Tainted". This song is actually a remake of an early 80's classic by "Soft Cell".
As I am trying to keep my balance on this swing, while trying not to drop my laptop I'm taking mental notes of my "White Zen" cut "Love Can Turn You Around." Vivian's voice on this track made me feel the emotion behind each word she belted out. Just listening to the blend of the keyboard, guitar and the seductive suggestions the two make is beyond an eargasmic combination. The lyrics "love can turn you around, love can make you sit down and think about tomorrow" made me wonder if she is singing from experience. Love is a wonderful thing... Now, back to the review.
Other tracks like "It's Alright", "Heroin", "Ghettoland", "Searchin'" and "Luv U" are all ear worthy creations that bring up the social issues that we need to address and do something about. Janci is feeling "He Who Knows". She says that it's a nice jazzy track with a deep soulful feel along with a bit of seduction. Don't just take my ears for it. Go out and buy the CD - visit myspace.com/albrightmusic to get more info on the duo and purchase their music.
Neo Soulville - Marvina
One of the beautiful things about music is the collaboration between
its artists. Collaborative efforts have the ability to take performers from different backgrounds and music experiences and transform them into a singular, unified artistic music concept. With the merging of über session and background vocalist Vivian Sessoms and musician and producer Chris Parks, the soul music world has expanded with the creation of Albright. The duo, with Sessoms holding down the bulk of the writing and strutting her stuff on vocals, and Parks manning the music instruments and production, bring a warm, inviting, organic groove and vibe with their debut CD, “Sunny One Day.”
With “Sunny One Day,” Albright (the band is named as a tribute to Sessoms’ maternal grandmother) branches out to show you a broader range of the talents of two respected artists that are better known for working in the background, either in the studio or live, with other artist on their respected projects. But as Albright, both Parks and Sessoms stretch out, with Vivian’s vocals ranging from cool to sassy to soulful, while Parks shows his versatility as a skilled musician, writer, and producer. With “Sunny One Day,” Sessoms and Parks have arrived as a tight unit as Albright. “We had been producing and writing for a number of artists, and there was a good amount of songs we had that weren’t being used for anything,” Parks says. “So we figured we should put out our own CD, maybe to use as a calling card to showcase our writing and production skills.”
Mission accomplished.
All of the songs on the album have an organic vibe, one that puts you in the frame of mind of waking up to a beautiful overcast day and playing the project, yet there’s nothing but blue skies by the time the last track ends. But there’s never a convoluted feeling with the songs, each track has a distinct vibe, with flowing melodies, smooth guitar arrangements, and tight groove production by Parks. Sessoms’s writing is right on with lyrics that never fail in reminding us that people do matter in the world. “In my mind, I wanted [the record] to be beautiful but I also wanted to talk about things that matter to me and my generation,” Sessoms says. “I wanted it to feel old school, but be modern at the same time.”
The album features some of the hottest musicians and vocalists on the soul scene putting it down on the project. Artist like Casey Benjamin (of Heavy), Wondress Hutchinson, Eric Brown (of Black-I), and Darius Booker among others all lend their talents to the album. While most of the songs are live instrumentation, there are a couple of songs that feature interesting samples from other artists, such as “Tainted” which the band remade into their own vibe, while paying homage to J-Dilla’s production of the Slum Village track. Other standout tracks include the title track, “Oh Baby,” “Love Can Turn You Around,” “In Between Worlds,” and “Faith”.
Rating: 8/10
Soul Interviews - Gabriel Rich
Warmly wonderful soul from Albright -- a group that features the vocals of Vivian Sessoms, a singer who's worked with a wide variety of bigger stars, but who really shines here on her own! Vivian's got a voice that's instantly appealing -- a sound that grabs you right from the very first, and holds tightly through the set's seductive blend of jazzy instrumentation and deeper soul inflections -- and the other half of the group is Chris Parks, a performer/producer with an equally great resume, and a perfect fit for Vivian on the set. Backings are often a warm blend of guitar, keyboards, and beats -- spare and simple, but never clunky or cliched -- and although many titles are originals, the set also features a few nice snippets from older tunes too. Titles include "Searchin", "Ghettoland", "He Who Knows", "Tainted", "Love Can Turn You Around",
New York duo Vivian Sessoms and Chris Parks fall loosely into the organic soul sound. 'Dunno What' and 'Tainted' are good head nodding dancers. The standout 'He Who Knows' has a mid tempo vybe similar to Jill Scott and the bass propelled dancer 'Ghettoland' has nice keyboard touches. 'Love Can Turn You Around' is an ice ballad and the mid tempo grooves 'Its Alright', 'In Between Worlds' and Fadin Out'.. Nice album.
Albright feat. Vivian Sessoms 'Supercharged' ****
Born and raised in Harlem, Vivian Sessoms is a woman who eats, sleeps and breathes music. Working with legends such as Michael Jackson, Donna Summer, Sean "P.Diddy" Combs and Sinead O'Connor, Vivian has been able to capture and apply what she's learned to create her own style.
After meeting up with multitalented producer Chris Parks, they present their debut album: "Sunny One Day"; a 14 track album showcasing Vivian's strong vocal talents.
As one listens to this album, you will easily appreciate Vivian's voice and her passion for music. Tracks such as "Ghettoland", "Heroin" and "Oh Baby" capture Vivian's soulful voice. "Tainted" which the two sampled from Slum Village and Dwele's "Tainted" provides her interesting definition of a 'tainted love' from a female's perspective. Other tracks such as "Searchin", "Dunno' What" and "Sunny One Day" all help enhance Vivian's voice and the overall quality of the album.
There is a noticeable maturity in this album through the lyrics which one could only expect from such an artist. Furthermore, the maturity and sophistication of their songs help convey and drive this album and tracks such as "Love Can Turn You Around" and "Love You" help to exemplify this.
What is great about this album is that none of their songs are depressing or heart aching, which seems to be one of the unfortunate rules that R&B artists tend to use today when producing songs. All their songs talk about love, life, and happiness and not about why did I fall for this person or why I hate them so much. Negativity seems to drag people down where Albright clearly shows the opposite.
The album on a whole is great soulful ensemble with great lyrics, excellent production and of course superb vocals. The passion and drive Vivian & Chris have in each song clearly illustrate to the listener how much devotion they have for music. This might explain why a number of listeners may not have heard of Vivian because the music industry lately has been saturated with artists who sing repetitive formulaic lyrics on depressing topics instead of positive uplifting material.
Dwight Barrett - Just Soul