"ECHO" PRODUCED BY JON COWHERD IN STORES JULY 29!
Alyssa Graham loves it all. Musically that is. Her enchanting style, which evokes an almost fairy-tale like mood, is reflective of her diverse musical foundation that is rooted in her North Eastern upbringing. Her family, especially her father, were enormous music lovers with a deep connection to the classics. Their home was constantly filled with music, ranging from Billie Holiday to The Beatles, Jobim to A Chorus Line, Frank Sinatra to Pink Floyd.
Alyssa's creative resolve and vocal eloquence are the products of her enduring artistic exposure. As a young girl Graham's father took her to see some of the greats, Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Nancy Wilson, The Temptations, Neil Young, Bob Dylan; just to name a few. After studying piano, saxophone, and guitar, Alyssa headed off to Ithaca College to continue her pursuit of music. It was in this environment that she blossomed as a vocalist, composer, and performer.
While at Ithaca, she co-founded and performed with the band Blindman's Holiday, a six piece ensemble rooted in original compositions. The band became legendary on the college circuit and secured some high profile appearances with such artists as The Band, Lisa Loeb, Hot Tuna, and The Wailers. The band was also featured in Seventeen Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, and Relix. Graham became known for her unique style and her riveting performances.
Upon leaving Blindman's Holiday, Alyssa decided to continue her musical exploration/education at The New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, where she studied Jazz Voice and Contemporary Improvisation. It was here that she was encouraged to develop her unique artistic style, playing on her breezy phrases and hypnotic voice. Alyssa supplemented her schooling with travels through Brazil, India, Africa, and Europe where she found boundless musical inspiration.
In 2005 Graham launched her solo career with her critically-lauded debut CD, What Love Is , chosen by All About Jazz as one of the "Best New Recordings of 2005" and JazzIz's Annual "Women In Jazz" issue. On July 29th, 2008 Sunnyside Records will release Alyssa's new album ECHO which was produced by the wonderful Jon Cowherd (Brian Blade Fellowship, Lizz Wright). ECHO is a sensuous blend of Jazz, Brazilian and Pop elements and features some of New York's finest including: Romero Lubambo, Doug Weiss, Obed Calvaire, Jeff Haynes, Gregoire Maret, Sachi Patitucci, and more. In addition to the release of ECHO Alyssa is working on two independent projects as well - one with famed trombonist Wycliffe Gordon and the other with legendary composer Jack Reardon (The Good Life).
Alyssa was asked recently what she hopes to accomplish with her music and career, she replied, "I always want to be true to myself and the music. I hope in doing this I will evoke some kind of emotion from my listeners. I never want to compromise on that, the rest will follow."