"Perfectly capable of vocal pyrotechnics, Miss Graham remains close to the melody, accomplishing two important goals in the bargain: one, showing off her beautifully-controlled and sumptuous voice, unclouded by unnecessary experimentation and, two, by presenting straight melodies to standards that new listeners will eventually hear performed instrumentally and with careful listening will better understand." - ALL ABOUT JAZZ
“…a very special and promising young singer" - LUCIANA SOUZA
NEW ALBUM RELEASE! July 29th, 2008. - Produced by Jon Cowherd
Alyssa Graham loves it all. Musically that is. Her eclectic and enchanting style is reflective of a diverse musical foundation rooted in her East Coast upbringing.
Born and raised in New Jersey, Alyssa's family, especially her father, were enormous music lovers with a deep connection to the classics. Their home was constantly filled with music that ranged from Billie Holiday to The Beatles, A Chorus Line to Astrud Gilberto, Frank Sinatra to Pink Floyd. The family frequented live performances of such greats as Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Nancy Wilson, The Temptations, Neil Young and Bob Dylan. Creatively, this was a breeding ground for Alyssa. Her creative resolve is a direct product of her enduring artistic exposure which greatly influenced her development as an individual artist.
At a young age Alyssa began writing music and re-interpreting the standards as well as studying piano, guitar and the saxophone. After high school, she headed off to Ithaca College to study music and cultural anthropology. It was there that she blossomed as a vocalist and composer. She co-founded and performed with the band Blindmans Holiday, a six piece ensemble rooted in original compositions. The band became legendary on the college circuit, opening for such artists as The Band, Lisa Loeb, and The Wailers. Graham became known for her riveting performances and toured with the group for six years.
After Blindmans Holiday and Ithaca College, Alyssa decided to continue her musical education at The New England Conservatory of Music, where she studied Jazz Voice and Contemporary Improvisation. It was there that she was encouraged to explore and further develop her unique artistic style. Upon completing her studies she moved to New York City where she was mentored by the likes of Luciana Souza, Sheila Jordan, Jay Clayton and Gary Dial. To further enhance her musical vocabulary and appreciation, Alyssa supplemented her training with travels through Brazil, India, Bali, and Eastern Europe where the music is rich and boundless.
In 2005 Graham launched her solo career with the release of What Love Is, which has and continues to receive notable acclaim. The project is a collection of 11 gorgeous compositions and staying true to her crossbred roots, it includes songs by Jobim, Gershwin, Mercer, Rodgers & Hart, Neil Young, and more. On this recording she is supported by seven talented musicians: Douglas Graham, Jonathan Anderson, Evan Gregor, Jordan Perlson, Garry Dial, Matt Shulman, and Zach Colwell.
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...and the rest will follow.
Alyssa Graham's sophomore project, slated for release in February 2007, is being produced by Jon Cowherd. Cowherd has produced and composed for Lizz Wright and Brian Blade.
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