Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Tierney Sutton: I'm With the Band

163

Tierney Sutton: I'm With the Band

By

Sign in to view read count
Tierney Sutton: I'm With the Band
Sometimes it's easy to forget the human voice is also an instrument. Tierney Sutton is here to remind us of the fact. Her first live recording and fifth overall, I'm With the Band, recorded on consecutive nights in spring of 2005 at Birdland in New York City, captures this Grammy-nominated singer at her best.

Born in Wisconsin, Sutton originally sang in choirs. A move in the mid 1990s to California led to her ten-year collaboration with her current bandmates: Christian Jacob, Trey Henry, Kevin Axt and Ray Brinker. Their 2004 release, Dancing in the Dark, debuted in the Billboard Jazz top ten and remained on the charts for more than fifteen weeks. I'm with the Band, nominated for a Grammy as Jazz Vocal Album, features Sutton's takes on several classics by such composer/songwriters as Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Henry Mancini and Irving Berlin.

An a cappella scat introduces the first track, "Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise." As Janis Siegel has done mimicking a trumpet, Sutton makes her voice sound like a flute. The song quickly takes off when the instruments join in, highlighted by Jacob's energetic piano solo. After putting the band through its paces, Sutton closes this piece just as she began: with a flute-like scat. Sutton delivers a high-speed scat in her rendering of George and Ira Gerswhin's "S Wonderful." The bass sets the tone in a duet with Sutton on "People Will Say We're In Love."

Sutton delivers another rapid-fire scat on "Surrey with the Fringe on Top," accompanied by Brinker on drums. Throughout the album, Sutton easily transitions from scatting to singing and back. All the while, she's accompanied by a tight-knit group of sidemen. And on the closer, "Devil May Care," Sutton and the band end the show with the same level of energy they began with. Sutton's bouncy scat also quotes from "In the Hall of the Mountain King," reaffirming her flair for improv.

Whether a vocal flute, a dazzling scat or delightful songbird, it doesn't matter which sound Sutton conjures up. She takes command of each song as if it were her own, a must whenever a contemporary vocalist performs standards. Even Irving Berlin fans can only stand so many renditions of "Cheek to Cheek." But in the hands—or rather the voice—of Tierney Sutton, these songs still have relevance to audiences who are familiar with the originals, while maintaining freshness and affirming the singer's own style.

On I'm With the Band, Sutton sets herself apart from many up-and-coming vocalists who break onto the scene by covering many of the same songs presented here. However, Sutton's ability to use her voice in different ways, combined with fresh arrangements, puts her in the class of vocal masters like Janis Siegel, Cheryl Bentyne, Shirley Horn and even the queen of scat: Ella Fitzgerald.

Track Listing

Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise; Let's Face the Music and Dance; 'S Wonderful; Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea; Two for the Road; East of the Sun (and West of the Moon); People Will Say We're in Love; If I Loved You; Surrey with the Fringe on Top; Cheek to Cheek; Blue Skies; I Get a Kick Out of You; The Lady Is a Tramp; What a Little Moonlight Will Do; On My Way to You; Devil May Care.

Personnel

Tierney Sutton: vocals; Christian Jacob: piano; Trey Henry and Kevin Axt: bass; Ray Brinker: drums.

Album information

Title: I'm With the Band | Year Released: 2006 | Record Label: Telarc Records

Comments

Tags

Concerts


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Sensual
Rachel Z
Over and Over
Tony Monaco Trio
Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

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