About Tierney Sutton

With 9 Grammy nominations to her credit, Tierney Sutton is widely regarded as one of the most distinctive and thoughtful voices in contemporary jazz. As vocalist, arranger, educator, and song writer, she has built a body of work marked by artistic integrity, collaborative innovation, and a profound commitment to storytelling. Raised in Milwaukee and currently based in Los Angeles and Paris, Sutton emerged in the 1990s with a fresh approach to jazz singing—one that blended impeccable musicianship, emotional depth, and a uniquely collaborative spirit. As leader of the acclaimed Tierney Sutton Band, she helped redefine the modern jazz vocal ensemble, creating recordings and performances that emphasized collective improvisation and sophisticated arrangements. Sutton’s celebrated tributes to artists such as Bill Evans, Frank Sinatra, Joni Mitchell, and Sting helped establish her as one of the premier interpreters of the Great American Songbook and beyond. The New York Times has called her “one of the most-lauded jazz vocalists of her generation.”

Described by Clint Eastwood as “My favorite singer”,  Sutton and her band (notably pianist Christian Jacob) created the score for the legendary filmmaker’s 2016 blockbuster, Sully. In addition to performing it, Sutton co-wrote lyrics for the film’s end-title song, “Flying Home,” opening a new chapter in her artistic life as a lyricist and song-writer

Notable in this regard is the 2024 album Good People, recorded with the San Gabriel Seven. The title song and accompanying video represent perhaps the boldest artistic statement of her career. A satirical and historically informed examination of systemic racism in America, “Good People” confronts issues including housing discrimination, residential segregation, racial wealth inequality, and historical violence against Black communities.

Evolution as a lyricist reached a new level in Sutton’s 2025 collaboration with celebrated French jazz masters André Charlier and Benoît Sourisse. Talking to the Sun brought together Brazilian influences, French jazz elegance, and Sutton’s increasingly confident voice as a writer. The album marked the first time she devoted substantial attention to writing original lyrics, contributing texts that complemented the duo’s sophisticated compositions while revealing a deeply personal and imaginative literary sensibility.

Most recently, Sutton has enjoyed extraordinary success with Spring, a duo recording with acclaimed pianist Tamir Hendelman. Longtime collaborators and musical soulmates, Sutton and Hendelman bring a rare level of trust and communication to both recording studio and stage, allowing songs to unfold with remarkable freedom and emotional immediacy. Critics and audiences alike have responded enthusiastically, with many citing Sutton’s work with Hendelman among the finest work of her thirty-year career. As the pair continue to tour internationally, Spring stands as a testament to the power of mature artistry, deep listening, and shared musical imagination. In the words of The New York Times, Sutton remains “one of the most-lauded jazz vocalists of her generation,” and with Spring, she continues to demonstrate why.