Albright featuring Vivian Sessoms Sunny One Day
Amel Larrieux Lovely Standards
September, 2007
Amel Larrieux is the kind of entertainer with a vocal style that can not be categorized. The former lead singer of Groove Theory has done everything from R&B and soul to hip-hop and folk. On her fourth solo endeavor, Lovely Standards, Amel again steps out the box with perhaps her most intimate project to date.
The 10-track disc opens with "If I Were a Bell," which has a very Thelonious Monk-type feeling to it. Listening to this cut, you get the sense that pianist Yakir Benhur channeled the spirit of the late, great Monk while Amel's honey-coated vocals takes you to a time and place when straight-ahead jazz dominated the music scene. "Try Your Wings" is so smooth that if you closed your eyes and concentrated on the music, you could swear you were transported to Harlem circa mid-1940s.
With production from her husband and musical collaborator Laru Larrieux, the Rodgers and Hammerstein composition "Something Wonderful" is given a new, fresh spin. "If I Loved You" is so profound that it captivates you from beginning to end. Closing out the album is Edward Kennedy Ellington's "I Like the Sunrise," on which Amel sounds so rich and pure against a backdrop of superb musicians that it would make "Sir Duke" more than proud.
Amel Larrieux continues to march to the beat of her own drum. As she forges her path and shatters stereotypes along the way, it won't be long before we hear a foreign language project or her moving in the direction of a different musical genre.
September, 2007
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.
