Vivian Sessoms was born in Harlem, and was raised between Philly and Harlem as a child with some stops in Newark & Camden NJ. As she likes to say – ‘she lived in all the ‘hoods. Her parents were free thinkers, creatives who were immersed in music and cultural expression. Early on she just knew that one day she would be a singer, and that knowledge became a compelling need that drove her forward. With her parents singing and playing music around her, harmonizing and sharing the essence, the structure of music, there was never another option. The church figured in as well, as her grandmother made sure she was in church most Sundays, and the spirit of gospel music was forever entangled with her destiny.
Many of us are separated from the realization of our destiny, but this is not so with Vivian. As a young girl she expressed the sense of her presence in history through music, and as she began to seek career opportunities she landed a gig with the great Ryuichi Sakamoto. One can not overstate the challenge of performing as a young vocalist with a music master like Sakamoto; singing in Japanese, Vivian was able to match her Black American roots with the expansive knowledge of an acclaimed ethno-musiciologist. Sakamoto brings a unique perspective: rather than expanding out from the root, he begins from a classical background and adds elements of multicultural styles to his final compositions. It is exactly this approach that brings Vivian’s album – LIFE – into sharp focus. The roots of her musical upbringing (soul, jazz, gospel) are there in powerful form, and yet a diverse and universal aspect is presented in every arrangement and composition.
And so, prepare yourself for the world of Vivian Sessoms - the versatile singer - songwriter - arranger - producer of LIFE. The album is a trans-generational document that manages to speak directly to this time on earth. All of the ingredients of a worldly mix of styles are present, with the groove and feeling of the church, the popular music of her time, and players that make it fresh. Led by Vivian and co-producer, Chris Parks, LIFE features a diverse cast of musicians, beginning with her persistent collaborations with Saxophonist Casey Benjamin and Pianist Shedrick Mitchell and followed by appearances from Brandee Younger, Keyon Harrold, Donny McCaslin, and Gregoire Maret, among others.
While there is no shortage of acclaimed musicians included in this project, it is clear LIFE is a labor of love, and not just titles. Ever present in the creation of this record is Chris Parks, Vivian’s long time creative partner. Every recorded album is a document - a testament to life at a certain time, or perhaps in a series of times. It would be easy to state that Vivian Sessoms’ voice is transcendent, but LIFE, the album, takes that voice and takes it higher; the songs on LIFE are for all of us, built of collaboration, of love, and of purpose.
01. 7th Heaven - Intro ft Freedom Bremner (1:03)
Adi Yeshaya & Vivian Sessoms
Arranged by C. Parks
Adi Yeshaya - string arranger
Charissa “The Violin Diva” Rouse - strings
Freedom Bremner - vox
02. No Greater Love - ft Casey Benjamin & Paradigm (4:27)
Isham Jones & Marty Symes
Arranged by V. Sessoms, C. Parks, D. Archer
Dave Archer - keys
Chris Parks - guitar, bass, keys & drum programming
Eric Brown - drums
Adam Jackson - drums
Casey Benjamin - vocoder
Sherrod Barnes - guitar
03. Under My Skin (feat. Paradigm) (6:32)
Cole Porter
Arranged by D. Archer, V. Sessoms, C. Parks
T. Lewis Dave Archer - keys
Chris Parks - bass, keys & drum programming
Eric Browns - drums
Meku Yisrael - conga
Adi Yeshaya - string arranger & strings
04. Superwoman (feat. Shedrick Mitchell) (5:12)
Steveland Morris
Arranged by S. Mitchell
Shedrick Mitchell - piano
Chris Parks - bass & keys
Donald Edwards - drums
05. Gabriels Lament (feat. Keyon Harrold) (1:03)
Chris Parks & Keyon Harrold
Arranged by C. Parks
Keyon Harrold - trumpet
Chris Parks - keys
06. Dreaming Of A Boy (feat. Keyon Harrold) (6:38)
Vivian Sessoms & Chris Parks
Arranged by V. Sessoms, C. Parks
Shedrick Mitchell - rhodes
Chris Parks - bass, drum programming
Donald Edwards - drums
Brandee Younger - harp
Keyon Harrold - trumpet
07. See Lude (1:16)
Chris Parks
Arranged by C. Parks
Meku Yisrael - conga
Chris Parks - keys
08. See Line Woman (feat. Vincent Gardner, Kenyatta Beasley & Donny McCaslin) (5:59)
Unknown
Arranged by M. Baerentzen, V. Sessoms, C. Parks
Mads Baerentzen - piano
Chris Parks - guitar
Carlos Henderson - bass
Eric Brown - drums
Conga - Meku Yisrael
Kenyatta Beasley - trumpet
Vincent Gardner - trombone
Cliff Lyons - saxophone
Donny McCaslin - saxophone solo
09. New Earth (:53)
Chris Parks
Arranged by C. Parks
Chris Parks - guitar, keys & bass
10. People - ft Shedrick Mitchell (4:47)
Linda Creed, Thom Bell
Arranged by R. Angry & S. Mitchell
Shedrick Mitchell - rhodes
Dave Archer - keys
Chris Parks - bass, keys & drum programming
Martin Valihora - drums
Sherrod Barnes - guitar
11. O.O.B.E. (0:41)
Chris Parks
Arranged by C. Parks
Chris Parks - keys & programming
12. Lush Life (For Jenny) (3:20)
Billy Strayhorn
Arranged by S. Mitchell, V. Sessoms
Shedrick Mitchell - rhodes
Chris Parks - bass
Adam Jackson - drums
Gerry Gibbs - additional drums
13. High Life (feat. Charissa “The Violin Diva” Rouse) (1:09)
Chris Parks & Adam Jackson
Arranged by C. Parks
Adam Jackson - drums
Chris Parks - keys & string string arranger
Charissa “The Violin Diva” Rouse - strings
14. Strange Fruit (feat. Shedrick Mitchell) (5:19)
Abel Meerpool
Arranged by V. Sessoms
Shedrick Mitchell - piano
Chris Parks - bass
Donald Edwards - drums
Brandee Younger - harp
Charissa “The Violin Diva” Rouse - strings & string arranger
15. Portal (0:57)
Chris Parks
Arranged by C. Parks
Chris Parks - keys
