Artist, activist, motivator and performer: Vivian Sessoms is all of these and so much more. Boasting a career spanning nearly two decades, Vivian has had the honor of collaborating on stage and in the recording studio alongside immortal artists the likes of Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Sinead O’ Connor and Ryuichi Sakamoto, to mention just a few.

However, her story doesn’t start there: music is an affair that runs in the family. Born and raised in Harlem, New York, Vivian was introduced to music at a very early age. Her mother was a professional jingle singer, her father, a flautist and percussionist, and both were avid music

lovers. Between her time at home and the local church, Vivian’s undying passion for music grew stronger with each passing day: a hobby soon turned into a profession and in turn, a life calling.

Vivian’s recognizable vocal style echoes the classic greats of soul and R&B: every word she sings is loaded with passion and raw emotion, with a vocal range that can travel from lilting and angelic to gritty and mournful in an instant. Her striking approach allows her to be able to swing through different genres with innate versatility, showcasing a commanding presence on stage as well as in the recording studio.

Of all of Vivian’s star-studded collaborations, the one in particular that truly stands out as “life defining", is with partner Chris Parks: The songstress serendipitously had the chance to work with the noted writer and producer several years before, on the project of a mutual friend. The pair hit it off, and immediately developed an incredible chemistry, as they kept facilitating new ways to collaborate with each other. This eventually led to the recording of their debut album, Metaphors, with then band Vivid, (named after the album of seminal rock group Living Colour).

Most recently, Vivian began work on a solo project, the first single of which, is the Billie Holiday classic Strange Fruit, a passionate song that deals with timeless and important issues such as racism and social inequality. The song's production bridges the gap between the warmth of the '60's and the punch of the '70's, spicing it up with a modern twist. The track is included on Vivian’s upcoming album, LIFE, her third studio effort following Metaphors, and sophomore release Sunny One Day (under the Moniker Albright).

LIFE explores themes of love, loss and life, and moves deftly between soul, jazz and world music without missing a beat. With this new collection of songs, Ms. Sessoms tackles the age old dilemma in jazz, of finding fresh ways to present the standard, partially by mining new material, thereby expanding the genre. With LIFE, we are treated to arrangements of newer compositions one would not ordinarily expect to hear on a jazz record. But it's what she does with the songs we do know, where she and her partners production skills really shine through, keeping the arrangements simple but beautifully so, with subtly nuanced performances by Vivian. In addition, LIFE boasts guest appearances by some of most talented musicians and performers on the jazz scene today.

It's quite the ride, following Vivian as she explores what is for her, new territory with the openness of mind of someone who is untethered by the traditional rules of jazz, and she's got a lot to say.