Soulgigs.com brings you for the first time in the UK with a full live band
Pioneer and disco queen, Melba Moore

 Soulgigs.com is extremely proud to bring UK music lovers the Grammy nominated and Tony Award winning artist, Melba Moore, preforming with a full live band at Manchester’s Mint Lounge on April 26^th, Birmingham’s the Drum on April 27th, and London’s Jazz Café Sunday April 29^th.

A seasoned professional entertainer, Melba’s forthcoming album ‘Forever Moore’ will be released via her own label called A’Moore Music, Inc;  a message of independence, strength self-empowerment. Available worldwide, ‘Forever Moore’, will consist of ‘Love Is’, her single, which received two Grammy nominations for Best Short Form Music Video and Best Traditional R&B Performance.

Rising to fame in the early 1970s with her debut album ‘I Got Love’; Moore got her first Grammy nomination in 1971 for Best New Artist. Iconic for possessing a four-octave vocal range, Moore’s new album is going to support her shows and appearances worldwide.

“I’m so excited to be performing for my first ever live UK dates. This trip and these performances are well over due. My fans up and down the country will be treated to many of my classic material as well as tracks from my forthcoming album” says, Melba Moore.

Melba Moore’s previous work includes many a musical theatre stage performance for the likes of HAIR, PURLIE, TIMBUKTU, and Les Miserables. Melba’s extensive musical theatre background and experiences have certainly shaped her into the artist that she is to this day, and WILL deliver a great set.

Moore has starred with Beyonce and Cuba Goobing Jr, in the motion picture ‘The Fighting Temptations’ among other projects and is also working on an autobiography highlighting the highs and lows of her career to date.

Melba has enjoyed much success with chart topping songs during the early 70’s such as ‘Love’s Comin’ At Ya’, ‘Keepin’ My Lover Satisfied’, ‘Living For Your Love’, and ‘Read My Lips’. She achieved two number one hits on the Billboard singles charts for ‘Falling’ and ‘A Little Bit More’ a duet with the great Freddie Jackson.

Melba’s sound is timeless and her voice is classic, having had eleven U.S top ten hit singles and albums on the Billboard pop, R&B, Disco, and Dance album charts over a period of 40 years she is one of the most inspirational artists of this recent century.

For more information and tickets visit: www.soulgigs.com

Vivian Sessoms Returns to Feinstein’s to Give You Her “Heart”

(New York, NY — April 3, 2012) — Vivian Sessoms, the critically-acclaimed songstress known for her rich, melodic and captivatingly soulful vocals, returns to Feinstein’s at Loews Regency, 540 Park Avenue at 61st Street, for another highly-anticipated performance entitled “Heart” on April 22, 2012 at 8:30pm (dining begins at 6pm) [$25 cover, $25 minimum food & beverage]

“Heart” will showcase various song renditions that Vivian considers “some of the most beautiful love songs ever written, old and new.” It will include covers by Burt Bacharach, Elvis Costello, The Weepies, Badly Drawn Boy, Barry Manilow, Grace Jones, and Tammi Terrell, as well as a few original songs and Vivian‘s personal arrangement of Rob Thomas‘ “Unwell” with Matchbox 20 . (see video clip below)

Sessoms’ 2011 debut performance at Feinstein’s received rave reviews:

“It is always such a fantastic surprise when a new artist comes to Feinstein’s and just blows the roof off with their talent. Vivian was one of those artists and we were thrilled to have her here.” –Feinstein’s Management

“When Vivian Sessoms erupts onto the stage with a robust, funky arrangement of “Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Baby?” (Louis Jordan), my pen abandons words for exclamation points…This is a formidably talented performer with a fierce band.” — Cabaret Scenes

Sessoms will again be accompanied by an all-star band for “Heart”. In the band: Chris Parks – acoustic & electric bass, acoustic guitar (Amel Larrieux, Roberta Flack, Sheila E.); Michael Mancini — piano & keyboards (Eric Clapton, Sheryl Crow, Mary J. Blige, Bruce Springsteen, Phoebe Snow); Eric Brown — drums & percussion (Rachelle Ferrell, Lala Hathaway, Deborah Cox); and Noam Dworman — acoustic & electric guitar, mandolin (owner of The Village Underground, former owner of The Cafe Wha/Cafe Feenjon, NYC).

PERFORMANCE CLIPS

Feinstein’s 2011 = Is You Is or Is You Ain’t My Baby
Rob Thomas’ homage to Vivian’s rendition of Unwell
Feinstein’s 2011 = Cherchez La Femme

ABOUT VIVIAN SESSOMS

Born and raised in Harlem, Vivian learned the wonder of music at an early age. Her mother was a session/jingle-singer, her father a flautist/percussionist (who’s played with the likes of 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 already singing by the time she could talk. “Growing up, there was always music to express the way I was feeling. I was so immersed in it, that I kind of viewed music as a backdrop to my life”, she recalls. As a teen, she was approached by Melba Moore, Teddy Riley and Stevie Wonder to perform alongside them. She then went on to work with Joe Cocker, Rob Thomas, P!nk, Patti Austin, Patti Labelle, Sinead O’Connor and most recently Cher to name a few. She has been a featured vocalist for jazz artist Chris Botti, composer Ryuichi Sakamoto (Yellow Magic Orchestra, High Heels, Little Buddha)and Towa Tei (international DJ and former member of music group Dee-Lite). Not content to stop there however, Vivian soon began to write and produce for Lalah Hathaway, Amel Larrieux, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Jeff Kashiwa, David Morales, Towa Tei and Junior Vazquez among others and had a feature song in the film “Moonlight Serenade” starring Amy Adams & Alec Newman.  In 2007, Vivian along with writing partner Chris Parks released a debut CD “Sunny One Day” (under the moniker of Albright for Vivian’s maternal grandmother) to very impressive reviews. Vivian is now putting the finishing touches on the follow up CD “Heart”, a jazz record that will feature some folk and soul, and a third CD “Radiant” that will feature pop and soul music. Both records are scheduled for release summer of 2012.

For additional information on Vivian Sessoms, visit: www.VivianSessoms.com . For ticket information visit: Feinstein’s ticket purchase info

For press inquiries, please contact: Katrina Boswell — Katrina@katwalkmedia.com.

Tony Award-Winning Actress/Vocalist Melba Moore teams with up with one of the great voices of our time, Phil Perry for wonderful album duets, Gift of Love (Shanachie/2009).

Most recently seen in TV One’s Unsung series, the album marks the return of Melba Moore to the R&B world after releasing several gospel albums, doing a one woman show (Sweet Songs: A Journey In One Life) and also owning a Gospel Club and restaurant in Harlem, Gospel Uptown. She was even a panelist on the “Artist Speaks” at the International Soul Summit last week here in Atlanta. Having been a long time fan, I was looking forward to meeting her, but unfortunately she had to leave early. It was obvious though, her gracefulness, poise and elegance brought a dignified and distinguished presence to the panel.
(more…)

Source: blog.nj.com

Be sure to catch the latest episode tonight on TV One. If you miss it, you can check out clips from their online channel here.

Permalink

Official Website

MySpace

Check out more after the jump.
(more…)