New York jazz singer/songwriter, Vivian Sessoms, was back in Adelaide for one performance only as part of her national tour, making this her third visit to South Australia. She was backed by a great trio of musicians, with Brenton Foster, piano, Lyndon Gray, bass, and Chris Neale, drums. Foster is an Adelaide musician now working interstate, and he came across to Adelaide with Sessoms to play for her back in his hometown. Neale and Gray both live here, the latter playing every Wednesday at La Boheme with the sensational quartet, The New Cabal. Sessoms couldn't have had a better group.
The evening featured many marvellous songs, with a focus on songs from an upcoming new album, including a sensational interpretation of Cole Porter's Under My Skin, the gentle ballad, Never Let Me Go, written by Jay Livingston with lyrics by Ray Evans, and the powerful indictment, I Can't Breathe, the tribute to Eric Garner.
As a surprise bonus, Brenton Foster also revealed his singing talents in a duet with Sessoms, on Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah. The positive sentiments in People Make the World Go Round, from her new album, closed the first half.
Her incredible vocal range and control was clearly exhibited in this performance, used to great effect in conveying emotions, creating excitement, and thoroughly engaging the audience. Sessoms loses herself in every song, making each one a part of her, or her a part of them. Her band arrangements are equally remarkable, rich, complex, extremely varied, but not beyond musicians of the calibre of her Adelaide trio, who played impeccably.
The second half of the performance brought forth more great tunes, opening with another Cole Porter number, a swinging version of Love for Sale that really had the joint jumping. You Don't Know What Love Is, by lyricist. Don Raye, and composer, Gene de Paul, is another song from her album and provided a fine contrast to the up-tempo opener. Her version of Prince's Under the Cherry Moon was superb; a revelation. And till the music kept coming one sensational performance after another. Sessoms is remarkably versatile. I am sure that she could sing the telephone directory and make it musical.
It is not all music. Sessoms has stories. At the age of nine, she sang with a band of youngsters that opened for Marvin Gaye. The full story is quite amazing, humorous, too long to tell here, and best heard from her lips, as is the tale of her encounter with Prince. Sessoms has worked with many of the biggest names in the business, including Cher, Sinead O'Connor, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and the list goes on and on. With the tales that she has to tell, and her remarkable vocals, she really should be a part of our next Adelaide Cabaret Festival.
Be sure to catch this amazing singer next time she is in town. In the meantime, you can find her website for information on her coming engagements, and to buy her albums, here.
