Opening Night: Saturday, April 5 at 8:30pm
Vivian Sessoms is a powerhouse vocalist and performer. She has worked as a backing vocalist for Christina Aguilera, Cher, Joe Cocker, P!nk, Patti LaBelle, Patti Austin, Natalie Cole and Chaka Khan among others. She has recorded and toured worldwide as a featured vocalist for artists including Chris Botti, Harold Mabern, Eric Benet, Will Downing, Towa Tei (of Dee-Lite), Ryuichi Sakamoto, DJ David Morales, DJ Junior Vazquez, The Bingo Boys and Rob Thomas.
Born and raised in Harlem, Sessom’s interest in music began at an early age. Her mother was a session/jingle-singer, her father was a flautist/percussionist (who had played with 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 singing by the time she could talk. Years later, while on one of her first major tours performing with pianist/composer Ryuichi Sakamoto (whose film credits include the scores for Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence, Little Buddha and High Heels), Sessoms was exposed to a new world of sound. She became surrounded by seasoned musicians like drummer Manu Katche (Peter Gabriel, Sting), Victor Bailey (Weather Report, Madonna) and Darryl Jones (Miles Davis, The Rolling Stones). Sakamoto expected her to be on par with those musicians: she was promoted as a featured vocalist and was taught to sing in Japanese. Sessoms continued to build her repertoire as she performed, live or in the studio, with an array of artists including P. Diddy, Michael Jackson, Donna Summer, Sinéad O’Connor, and Stevie Wonder.
Vivian Sessoms: vocals
Stephen Scott: piano
Eric England: bass
Rodolfo Zuñiga: drums
Admission: $25.00 (General Admission) and $15.00 (WDNA Members)
WDNA Jazz Gallery
WDNA 88.9 FM
2921 Coral Way
Miami, Fl 33145
Studio Hotline/Contest Line: 305.444.7889
Business Office (Reservations): 305.662.8889
[email protected]
www.wdna.org
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