“A serious jazz artist who takes the whole enterprise to another level.”
THE NEW YORK TIMES
About Tierney Sutton
An 9-time Grammy nominee, Tierney Sutton has received 8 Nominations for “Best Jazz Vocal Album” as well as a 9th for arranging. Known for her impeccable voice and superbly imaginative arrangements, Sutton is heralded for her ability to transform even the most familiar song into a revelation. She is a story-teller. Her 15 recordings as leader have addressed themes such asmaterialism and the pursuit of happiness as well as paying tribute to the music of Bill Evans, Frank Sinatra and Sting. Her 2013 Joni Mitchell tribute, “After Blue” featured NEA Jazz Master Hubert Laws as well as jazz vocal legend Al Jarreau. Her latest album, “Paris Sessions 2” features Serge Merlaud, Kevin Axt and Hubert Laws. The pandemic found Tierney deepening her collaboration with piano powerhouse Tamir Hendelman. This exciting duo has an album in the works.
Since 1993 Sutton has fronted The Tierney Sutton Band which has featured instrumental virtuosos Christian Jacob, Trey Henry, Kevin Axt and Ray Brinker. After 29 years together with the same personnel, Tierney has recently opened the band to exciting new members, yet retaining the same creative, united energy that has fueled the last 3 decades.
Director Clint Eastwood has called Sutton “my favorite singer”and hired her, along with TSB pianist Christian Jacob and The Tierney Sutton Band to score his 2016 film, “Sully”. When she is not performing, Tierney is in demand as both a studio producer and vocal coach. She served as vocal producer for famed lyric soprano Natalie Dessay on several albums for Sony Classics including “Pictures of America” and “Between Yesterday and Tomorrow”.
Sutton has taught at USC’s Thornton School of Music, The Jacobs school of Music at Indiana University, The Los Angeles College of Music in Pasadena, CA., and The Centre Des Musiques Didier Lockwood in France. She has given workshops and masterclasses throughout the world and has taught and mentored some of the finest new generation of singers including Sara Gazarek and Gretchen Parlato.
9-time Grammy nominee, Tierney Sutton has received a “Best Jazz Vocal Album” Grammy nod for every project she has released in the last decade. Known for her impeccable voice and imaginative treatments of The Great American Songbook, Sutton is heralded for her abilities as both a jazz storyteller and her ability to use her voice as an instrument. Her 12 recordings as leader have addressed themes such as materialism ( “Desire”, 2009), the pursuit of happiness (“On The Other Side” 2007), as well as paying tribute to the music of Bill Evans (“Blue In Green” 2002), Frank Sinatra (“Dancing In The Dark” 2004), and pop icon Sting (“The Sting Variations 2016). Her 2013 Joni Mitchell tribute, “After Blue” featured keyboardist Larry Goldings, drummer Peter Erskine, jazz vocal legend Al Jarreau, and NEA Jazz Master flautist Hubert Laws.
Since 1993 Sutton has fronted “The Tierney Sutton Band” which featured instrumental virtuosos Christian Jacob, Trey Henry, Kevin Axt and Ray Brinker. On stage the band exhibits an “almost unearthly” connection, a tribute to having the same world-class personnel for over 20 years—a virtually unheard-of accomplishment in today’s music business. Incorporated partners, all decisions, musical or business are made by the band as a unit. In 2011 they received a Grammy nomination for their collaborative arranging, the only band ever to receive this honor.
In May 2016 Tierney was approached by legendary Director Clint Eastwood. The original score to his box-office smash, “Sully”, was created by TSB pianist, Christian Jacob, The Tierney Sutton Band and Clint Eastwood. The end-title song “Flying Home” features music by Eastwood and lyrics by Tierney Sutton and JB Eckl. It is performed by Tierney Sutton and The Tierney Sutton Band.
When she is not performing, Tierney is in demand as both a studio vocal producer and vocal educator. In 2016 she worked with famed lyric soprano Natalie Dessay for Sony Classics’ “Pictures of America” and the soon to be released “Between Yesterday and Tomorrow”.
She taught for over a decade at USC’s Thornton School of Music and spent 6 years as the Vocal Department Head at The Los Angeles College of Music in Pasadena,CA. Tierney has taught and mentored some of the finest new generation of singers including Gretchen Parlato and Sara Gazarek.
Latest Release
PARIS SESSIONS 2
Tierney Sutton Featuring Hubert Laws, Serge Merlaud and Kevin Axt
On 2014’s Grammy-nominated Paris Sessions, called “a bare-bones journey into the depths of musical intimacy” by AllMusic.com, vocalist Tierney Sutton forged an indelible chemistry with classically-trained Parisian guitarist-arranger Serge Merlaud. Now husband and wife, the two take their musical connection to even deeper levels on Paris Sessions 2, released May 6, 2022.
Paris Sessions 2 was recorded at L.A.’s Tritone Studios. Acoustic bass guitarist Kevin Axt, a member of the Tierney Sutton Band since 2005 and a key component of the first Paris Sessions, is back on board for Paris Sessions 2, providing resounding bass lines and all-important chordal work behind Merlaud’s lyrical guitar solos. Legendary flutist Hubert Laws, who recorded remotely from his home studio, blends beautifully with Sutton’s crystalline voice on five songs. The results are as entrancing as they are invigorating.
They kick things off in spirited fashion with a romp through Jobim’s “Triste,” which finds Tierney alternately scatting freely over the buoyant melody and delivering the Portuguese lyrics in cleanly articulated and convincing fashion against Merlaud’s authentic bossa nova comping. Tierney and Serge then combine for a stirring rubato treatment of “April in Paris/Free Man in Paris,” joining the Count Basie signature song and the Joni Mitchell tune together in a thematic medley. The full quartet makes its first appearance on Jobim’s tender bossa nova “Zingaro,” which has Laws’ alto flute alternately doubling Sutton’s wordless, ethereal vocals and shadowing her English lyrics. Both Laws and Merlaud turn in lyrical solos on this melodic gem.
The Tierney Sutton Band
Since 1993 Sutton has fronted “The Tierney Sutton Band” which has featured instrumental virtuosos Christian Jacob, Trey Henry, Kevin Axt and Ray Brinker. On stage the band exhibits an “almost unearthly” connection, a tribute to having the same world-class personnel for over 20 years—a virtually unheard-of accomplishment in today’s music business. Incorporated partners, all decisions, musical or business, are made by the band as a unit. In 2011 they received a Grammy nomination for their collaborative arranging, the only band ever to receive this honor.
The Tierney Sutton Band
Since 1993 Sutton has fronted “The Tierney Sutton Band” which has featured instrumental virtuosos Christian Jacob, Trey Henry, Kevin Axt and Ray Brinker. On stage the band exhibits an “almost unearthly” connection, a tribute to having the same world-class personnel for over 20 years—a virtually unheard-of accomplishment in today’s music business. Incorporated partners, all decisions, musical or business, are made by the band as a unit. In 2011 they received a Grammy nomination for their collaborative arranging, the only band ever to receive this honor.
UPCOMING PERFORMANCES
Get out and see Tierney and the band live!
NEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
What’s new?
All About Jazz – Paris Sessions 2
Time just scats on by when one is caught up in the wave of creativity that defines Tierney Sutton. How could it be that this enchanted vocalist is now presenting [...]
Audiophile Audition – Paris Sessions 2
Nine-time Grammy nominated jazz vocalist Tierney Sutton has been recording for twenty-five years. The Tierney Sutton Band (Christian Jacob/piano; Kevin Axt/bass; Ray Brinker – drums) performed for over 20 years. They played [...]
ScreenPlay Review
A cinematic sweep has long been present in the music of the Tierney Sutton Band, but never before have the stories been so vivid and the colors as striking. With ScreenPlay this long-running group [...]