Vivian Green: at Jazz and Jokes Lounge (Nashville, TN) Sat. January 26, 2013

Vivian Green

Nashville Scene Critic's Pick …

Vivian Green may be one of the finest female R&B voices you didn’t know you’ve heard. Born and raised in soul mecca Philadelphia, she began writing at age 11, and hometown heroes Boyz II Men closed out the follow-up to their blockbuster II with one of her songs, “Dear God,” when she was only 17. Soon, neo-soul queen Jill Scott took Green under her wing as a backup singer. After several international tours, Green’s demos, guided by mentor Eric Roberson, landed her a deal, and her solo career took off. Showcasing her range, she even appeared on-screen briefly in the Cole Porter biopic De-Lovely, performing “Love for Sale” as Billie Holiday. On 2012’s The Green Room, Green holds back on the pyrotechnic production that surrounds work by better-known singers like Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey, allowing her to highlight her tone and control, which rival those of either Houston or Carey. Though the record isn’t exactly even — the 10 individual production credits smack of too many cooks in the kitchen — it keeps Green front and center, where she belongs.

—STEPHEN TRAGESER