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Vivian Sessoms Stops by Afternoon Jazz, Before the Sarah Vaughan Int'l Jazz Vocal Competition

By Keanna Faircloth
Published November 20, 2019 at 1:38 PM EST
Courtesy of the artist

Raised in Harlem, NY, Vivian Sessoms truly “gets it honest.” Her mother was a session and jingle singer. Her father, a former flutist and percussionist for James Brown. Music was always around in her household, and her talent was apparent early on.

Credit WBGO
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WBGO
Vivian Sessoms, right, with WBGO's Keanna Faircloth

Now, as a seasoned vocalist, Sessoms looks forward to the unique exposure and recognition provided by the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition. When asked about her favorite song associated with Vaughan, she chose “Stella By Starlight” for the feeling and poignancy that Sassy brings to the standard.

The Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition takes place on Sunday, Nov. 24 at 3 p.m. at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, as part of the TD James Moody Jazz Festival. Vivian is both honored and excited to participate in this world-renowned exposition.

Here is a track from her latest album, Life II.

For more information about Vivian Sessoms, visit her website.

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Vivian SessomsSarah VaughanTD James Moody Jazz FestivalSassy Awards 2019
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Keanna Faircloth
Keanna Faircloth is a Washington, DC native and comes to WBGO getting her start on-air at WPFW 89.3 FM in 2003, most recently as the host of Late Night Jazz: The Continuum Experience. She is a graduate of Howard University having majored in Music History with a minor in Classical Piano. Keanna has written for NPR Music, and worked for Radio One as an on-air personality, producer and voice-over talent. She is also the creator and host of Artimacy Podcast, where she has interviewed artists like Wynton Marsalis, Matthew Whitaker, Jonathan Butler, and Dionne Warwick. As a result, she was recognized by Radio Ink Magazine as a 2019 African American leader in radio.
See stories by Keanna Faircloth