Albright: press

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

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

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.
Uptown - Willie C. Alaman

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

'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

- 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 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

'YOU GO GIRL..
Vivian Sessoms Musicality Is Awesome!'

Audrey J. Bernard

CHRIS WITH FEATURED VOCALIST VIVIAN SESSOMS.

Comments on Michael Lisi's review of Chris Botti's performance in Albany's Washington Park:

"I appreciate Mr. Lisi's comments about Chris Botti's performance at the Tulip Festival, and agree that more Botti would have been fine, but he isn't a stage-hog when it comes to his very capable sidemen. Clearly, he's the main attraction, but he has commented in several interviews that he takes a cue from both the late Miles Davis and his friend and mentor, Sting, by stepping to the side periodically to let his colleagues shine. (He also has admitted that it conveniently allows him a periodic breather, as the trumpet is a demanding instrument, even on the physically most fit of players, which he clearly is.)
"Still, minus one or two tunes from his typically 90-minute concerts, this performance was the best bargain a jazz fan will find anywhere in the Capital Region this year. Keep in mind, Botti has sold out the Troy Music Hall easily for two years in a row now -- and as recently as October.
"... Also, Mr. Lisi failed to mention by name the band's impressive new vocalist, Vivian Sessoms -- a terrific find whom Botti told me later was courtesy of his guitarist, Mark Whitfield. Whitfield is a most reliable source as his cousin, the very capable Sy Smith, is a frequent Botti band vocalist. Sessoms stepped in while Smith is occupied as one of the fine back-up vocalists on 'American Idol.'
"The three vocals delivered by Sessoms -- 'The Look of Love,' 'What'll I Do' and 'Good Morning Heartache' -- were a testament to her talent. She had just joined the band the evening before and stepped in without rehearsal. She delivered them with a power and self-assurance that clearly overcame the brevity of her tenure.
"Few jazz artists have the combination of artistry and charisma that Botti puts forth on stage every time. Here's hoping he'll make his way back to the area sometime again in the next year."

-Valley Girl aka Les

TRUMPETER BOTTI ENTRANCES AUDIENCE


'While Botti got most of the face time during the show, he also had plenty of chances to step back and let his talented band take center stage.

Guitarist Mark Whitfield, drummer Billy Kilson, pianist Peter Martin and bass player James Genus (a 13-year veteran of the “Saturday Night Live” house band) each gave amazing performances, and their gentle and amusing interaction was very natural. Botti began one tune, but had to stop for his own laughter when Whitfield began a series of mini-calisthenics.

Vocalist Vivian Sessoms kept up the
standard of quality with “The Look of Love” and “What’ll I Do,” as well as the Grammy-nominated “Good Morning Heartache.”

The blend of pop standards and jazz greats, nonchalance and formality and written and spontaneous performances made it a winning night.'

-David Burke

VIVIAN SESSOMS/THE JAZZ STANDARD

This picture was featured in Carribean Life newspaper back in October when I performed at The Jazz Standard as part of 'The Great Women in Music Festival'.

'AS A TESTAMENT TO HER UNFETTERED AMBITION..'
The solo performance of Vivian Sessoms at The Jazz Standard on October 2nd was a perfect testament to her unfettered ambition. While we all still salivate over the ever-postponed release of her (still!) forthcoming 'Sunny One Day', Vivian is already promoting that album’s follow-up: 'Sundown'.
And if the two sets at the Jazz Standard accurately predicted the timbre of 'Sundown', it’ll be a more acoustic, more contemplative companion to the funky groove of 'Sunny One Day'.'
-Marshall Shepardson

To read the rest of this review go back to October in the blog section.

LALAH HATHAWAY/OUTRUN THE SKY

"Hathaway brings to mind her late father, music legend Donny Hathaway on the poignant guitar and organ-driven 'Admit It', written & produced by Vivian Sessoms & Chris Parks"

"Some of the songs were inspired by a sense of romantic loss that she shared with some of her friends. Among those songs, the gritty anthem "Admit It" is the clear standout as Hathaway laments the "silly shit men do"."
— Mark Anthony Neal

"Worth the wait for Lalah Hathaway's "Outrun the Sky"
Veteran jazz/r&b producers Chris Parks & Vivian Sessoms place her in a comfortable, mid-tempo, contemporary r&b setting on
'Back Then' and 'In the End'."

DAVID MORALES/2 WORLDS COLLIDE

"But it's Vivian Sessoms who has the last word with the beautifully crafted "Take My Luv". This is a number that woos and wins with a stellar groove and a taut, instantly memorable melody that perfectly highlights Morales' uncanny ability to create timeless productions and uncover bright and exciting new talent".
Reviewer: Lewis Dene

"Ultimately, though, Morales has never been one to follow the latest trend. Instead, he has remained true to quality house beats of a musical kind. And on tracks like 'Take My Love', featuring Vivian Sessoms, the lyrics and music soar."—MP

"Featuring beautiful vocals by Vivian Sessoms, "Siren of Love" features sinister hold synths and sweeping, spacey sound fx for a truly cosmic disco experience. File under future house." --Definity

"Produced by David Morales, "The Vocal Mix" is almost eight minutes of dancefloor melodrama featuring Vivian Sessoms with her silky smooth and almost operatic off-the-cuff voice, and with a punchy and complex 4/4 tribal rhythm. "Siren of Love" has sub bass and an awesome big room siren with impact-making acid squelches and R2D2 electronics, "Baby you know you need some loving and I want to give it to you" sings Vivian. The instrumental has become a huge anthem with its genre defying reprise and is peaktime material".
Watts #169869

KHANI COLE/LIFETIME

"Khani most recently finshed and released her third album, 'Lifetime' (Expansion Records ~ Sony/3MV). Produced by New York based writers-producers, Chris Parks & Vivian Sessoms. Khani states: 'This album features some of the greatest musicians in New York and there's not a throw-away song on the album... I finally feel like I've recorded something that sounds like me.' 'Lifetime's' first two singles, 'Sunshine' & 'All About U', are quickly ascending the European radio charts and picking up where her first disc 'Places' left off".

"A brilliant new set of smooth soul numbers from singer Khani Cole -- a deeply voiced diva whose style reminds us a bit of Carleen Anderson. The set's got some fierce jazz-tinged backings arranged and produced by Chris Parks and Vivian Sessoms-- and the overall quality of the set is very high, like some of the best NuSoul work from the U.S., or like the best of Expansion's other albums of this sort. Titles include 'Sunshine', 'What Is Real', 'Sunday Morning', 'Lifetime', 'Trickin', and 'Real Thing' ".

ROB THOMAS "SOMETHING TO BE" TOUR
"A critic gets an earful"

"Sessoms and Douglas-McRae both have lovely, clear voices and great pitch — a prerequisite for backup singers, if not for the studio-sweetened divas that many of them work for".
--Elysa Gardner

RYUICHI SAKAMOTO/SWEET REVENGE

"and "Sentimental" breezes by with a slightly bossa nova-ish, '60s French movie feel and features an exquisite vocal by Vivian Sessoms."
R.S. 1994

PATTI AUSTIN ON VIVIAN SESSOMS

"I remember one moment that remains with me today when I think of Vivian Sessoms. Vivian was performing as one of my background singers. Sometimes I ask the singers to take a solo as a means of introducing themselves to the audience. As Vivian sang the first few lyrics of the classic song "At Last", I thought the heavens had opened up and rained down some of the best singing and performance style I had ever heard. With only a moment to make an impression, Vivian captured the entire audience."