Home » Jazz Musicians » Alyssa Graham

Alyssa Graham

An echo can soothe, and an echo can haunt. In Roman myth, Echo is the beautiful nymph with the musical voice forever calling after a boy in love with his own reflection. Critically-acclaimed singer-songwriter Alyssa Graham's sophomore CD, the aptly-titled Echo, is a musical travelogue that traces the arc of a modern-day love affair and infuses it with a mlange of Jazz, Pop and Brazilian rhythms, bound together by the unforgettable timbre of Graham's stunning voice. Echo was produced by Jon Cowherd (The Brian Blade Fellowship, Lizz Wright) and is set for release July 29th on Sunnyside Records with distribution through Ryko.

Called “A beautifully controlled and sumptuous voice" by All About Jazz, “Something special and truly unique" by critically-acclaimed vocalist Luciana Souza, “Lovely and haunting" by The New Yorker and “Comforting, exciting and spellbinding" by People Magazine, Alyssa began laying the foundations for Echo in January of 2006. It was a more than two year-long process, influenced by Alyssa's travels throughout Brazil, India, Africa and Europe, as well as her long-time love affair with guitarist and lyricist Douglas Graham. “Echo is like a fairy tale," says Alyssa, “It reveals the different complexities of an alluring lover, equally at home with flirtation and passion and knowing the precise distance between the two. A love story that is true and eternal. Doug and I have been together since we were kids and this record is truly a tribute to our successful love story and to many of the places we have traveled together--emotionally and geographically."

From a love song written in the aftermath of an argument and the pull of honeyed love that almost conceals a fear of loss ("Butterflies") to a song about escaping the world together ("Pictures of You") to the Latin surrealism of the title song (inspired by the last five minutes of the classic Italian film “La Notte") co-written by Bryan McCann, a childhood friend and Professor of Brazilian and Latin American History at Georgetown, Echo is a mythical blend of magical originals and familiar melodies filled with the musical unexpected. But perhaps the most unique highlight of the CD is the tune “Involved Again," especially significant in that it was actually written for Jazz legend Billie Holiday and was set to be recorded on her next album. Unfortunately, Holiday passed away and the writer of the song, legendary composer Jack Reardon ("The Good Life") was so saddened by this great loss that he shelved the track for fifty years until a chance listen to Alyssa's debut CD, What Love Is, prompted him to contact her. This unheard musical gem was recorded by Alyssa and is a song integral to the mood and sultry stylization of Echo.

Read more

Tags

498
Album Review

Alyssa Graham: Echo

Read "Echo" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey


Jazz is a paradox that is both compromising and uncompromising. It is compromising as an assimilating art, one that absorbs all influences that touch it. It is uncompromising that jazz demands virtuosity and creativity. It is this paradox that allows the genre to contain both a Sarah Vaughan and Dianna Krall, and a Grant Green and John McLaughlin beneath its tent. It is jazz that welcomes the better angels of creation into its realm to manifest any number of delightful ...

462
Extended Analysis

Alyssa Graham: What Love Is

Read "Alyssa Graham: What Love Is" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey


Alyssa Graham What Love Is Self Published 2006

Great things often come humbly disguised. While not the perfect metaphor, it comes pretty close to describing vocalist Alyssa Graham's new recording What Love Is. A self-produced effort, and I mean that literally as Miss Graham and her ensemble recorded these 11 selections in Miss Graham's one-bedroom apartment on New York City's Upper West Side, What Love Is proves possession of intimacy and empathy not possible ...

Read more articles
252

Performance / Tour

Jazz This Week: Alyssa Graham; a Benefit for Anthony Wiggins; Paul Demarinis; Chris Burchett Plays Monk; and More

Jazz This Week: Alyssa Graham; a Benefit for Anthony Wiggins; Paul Demarinis; Chris Burchett Plays Monk; and More

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

With better, almost springlike weather in the offing, it should be a good weekend to get out and hear some live music in St. Louis, and there are a number of events coming up of interest to fans of jazz and creative music.You can get started tonight, when singer Alyssa Graham opens a four-night engagement at Jazz at the Bistro. This is Graham's debut performance in St. Louis, and her vocal style and blend of jazz, folk and ...

142

Radio

Alyssa Graham Podcast Interview Now Online

Alyssa Graham Podcast Interview Now Online

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

Jazz St. Louis has just posted the latest installment in their series of podcast interviews: a chat between JSL's Gene Dobbs Bradford and singer Alyssa Graham, who will be making her St. Louis debut this Wednesday, March 3 through Saturday, March 6 at Jazz at the Bistro.You can listen to an audio stream of the interview here. Also, after a bit of tinkering by the web gurus on the recently re-designed JSL site, visitors once again have the ...

106

Video / DVD

STLJN Saturday Video Showcase: Introducing Alyssa Graham

STLJN Saturday Video Showcase: Introducing Alyssa Graham

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

This week, we've got some clips of singer Alyssa Graham, who will be making her St. Louis debut starting Wednesday, March 3 and continuing through Saturday, March 6 at Jazz at the Bistro.The New Jersey native released her first album What Love Is in 2005 and followed up with her sophomore effort Echo in 2008. Along with Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and Brazilian music, Graham cites singer-songwriters such as Joni ...

163

Performance / Tour

Jazz St. Louis Offering 2-for-1 Ticket Discount for Alyssa Graham

Jazz St. Louis Offering 2-for-1 Ticket Discount for Alyssa Graham

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

Jazz St. Louis is offering a 2-for-1 discount on tickets to hear singer Alyssa Graham, who's coming to St. Louis to perform Wednesday, March 3 through Saturday, March 6 at Jazz at the Bistro. The gig will be the St. Louis debut for Graham (pictured), who blends jazz, folk and Brazilian influences and released her second album Echo in 2008.Without the discount, tickets are priced at $25 for Wednesday and Thursday, $30 for Friday and Saturday, ...

138

Performance / Tour

Joey Defrancesco, Alyssa Graham Switch 2010 Dates at Jazz at the Bistro

Joey Defrancesco, Alyssa Graham Switch 2010 Dates at Jazz at the Bistro

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

Jazz St. Louis has announced another change in the season schedule for Jazz at the Bistro. From the letter sent out to subscribers:“Due to scheduling conflicts, Joey DeFrancesco has been forced to reschedule his dates for March of 2010. To make things easier for everyone, we have switched his dates with those of Alyssa Graham. The new dates will be:Alyssa Graham: March 3 - 6, 2010Joey DeFrancesco: March 31 - April 3, 2010This will ...

136

Performance / Tour

Alyssa Graham Performs Live @ Chris' Jazz Cafe (Philadelphia)

Alyssa Graham Performs Live @ Chris' Jazz Cafe (Philadelphia)

Source: Michael Ricci

Alyssa Graham performs from her critically acclaimed new album Echo out now on Sunnyside Records. She will do two shows on Saturday, August 29th at Chris' Jazz Cafe in Philadelphia, PA.

Echo was named one of the: “Top 10 Vocal Albums of 2008" --iTunes “Critics' Choice 2008" by Jazziz Magazine “Publisher's Top Pick 2008" --All About Jazz “Top 50 Jazz Albums 2008" --Jazz.com “Critics' Choice CD" --The New York Times ...

168

Performance / Tour

Alyssa Graham Performs Two Shows at Lincoln Center Jazz

Alyssa Graham Performs Two Shows at Lincoln Center Jazz

Source: All About Jazz

Alyssa Graham performs from her critically acclaimed new album Echo out now on Sunnyside Records. She will do two shows on Monday, April 27th at Lincoln Center Jazz--Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola as part of the annual “Sing Into Spring" festival.

Echo was named one of the: “Top 10 Vocal Albums of 2008" --iTunes “Critics' Choice 2008" by Jazziz Magazine “Publisher's Top Pick 2008" --All About Jazz “Top 50 Jazz Albums 2008" --Jazz.com

121

Performance / Tour

Alyssa Graham Performs at the Tin Angel on January 30th

Alyssa Graham Performs at the Tin Angel on January 30th

Source: All About Jazz

Alyssa Graham returns to Philadelphia to perform from her new album Echo on Sunnyside Records.

Echo was named one of the: “Top 10 Vocal Albums of 2008" by iTunes “Critics' Choice - Best of 2008" by Jazziz Magazine “Publisher's Top Pick for 2008" by All About Jazz “Top 50 Jazz Albums of 2008" by Jazz.com

Alyssa will perform from her new album this Friday at the Tin Angel.

Tin Angel ...

101

Performance / Tour

Alyssa Graham CD Release Event at Joe's Pub on January 16th

Alyssa Graham CD Release Event at Joe's Pub on January 16th

Source: All About Jazz

After touring the North East, Alyssa Graham will come home to NYC and celebrate the release of her Sunnyside debut, Echo at Joe's Pub.

Since it's release Echo has been a NY TIMES CRITICS' CHOICE CD, has been hailed as “Stunning" by Jazz Times and has been praised by THE WASHINGTON POST when they described Alyssa as a “Honey voiced Chanteuse that... smokes!"

“Echo" was recently honored as one of the “Top 10 Best Vocal Jazz Albums of 2008" by ...

117

Performance / Tour

Alyssa Graham | 10.17.08 | Philadelphia

Alyssa Graham | 10.17.08 | Philadelphia

Source: JamBase

Words by: Bobby Coleman | Images by: Rod Snyder

Alyssa Graham :: 10.17.08 :: Philadelphia Museum of Art :: Philadelphia, PA

Alyssa Graham :: 10.17 :: PA The setting for Alyssa Graham's performance was fitting for this singer who appreciates fine art. The Greek inspired building, “The Parthenon on the parkway," as it is affectionately known, is a huge sandstone building on the east bank of the Schuylkill River that dominates the hillside as ...

"...beautifully controlled and sumptuous voice." - All About Jazz
" Comforting, exciting and spellbinding." - Eleni Gage, People Magazine
" Wows listeners with plush poignancy." - The New York Press
"...lovely and haunting." - Alec Wilkinson, The New Yorker
"She's something special! Her voice is so natural and her sound truly unique." - Luciana Souza (Grammy-winning vocalist)
"Alyssa Graham is a true voice. Pure, beautiful, natural, honest and effortless as speech itself. Her distinct style is sure to 'speak' to you as it has 'spoken' to me." - Wycliffe Gordon (Jazz Journalists Association's two-time Trombonist of the Year)

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

The Lock, Stock &...

Unknown label
2011

buy

Echo

Sunnyside Records
2008

buy

Alyssa Graham: What...

Self Produced
2006

buy

Coming Home

From: Echo
By Alyssa Graham

Videos

Similar

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.