One of the strengths of vocalist Tierney Sutton and her long time team of Christian Jacob/p, Kevin Axt-Trey Henry/b and Ray Brinker/dr is that they know how to select themes for their projects. Sutton and company have successfully created homages to Sinatra, Joni Mitchell and even the American Folk Book. This time around, she focuses on the pen of Gordon Matthew Thomas Summer, aka “Sting”, with material from The Police and solo career joining together through the puree of Sutton’s deliver.
Her icy cool mist is used well here, as the team opens up “Driven to Tears” with a Kind of Blue quote before crating sepia shadows. Henry and Brinker are supple during the misty “If You Love Somebody Set Them Free” and Jacob ripples on Sutton’s liquid lyrics and woos of “Shadows in the Rain.” Soft brushes create long shadows with Jacobs and Sutton’s sunrise of a voice on the gentle “Field of Gold” whle the team flows like drapery n “Every Breath You Take.”
Besides her dry ice wisps, Sutton can also change deliveries and get a big snarly, opening up her voice as the team lays down a groove on “Message in a Bottle” and the funky groove of ”Walking in Your Footsteps.” Always a sign of strength is that you don’t have to know these songs in their original format to appreciate the new incarnations. Sutton and company once again hold up well on their own. Another addition to an already strong catalogue.
–George W. Harris
Jazz Weekly
