I'm With the Band

Recorded live at Birdland in March of this year, "I'm With the Band" captures the excitement of a live performance with the band and the crowd feed off each other's energy. But unlike many live recordings, the sound is excellent, equal to studio quality and there is no background chatter or glass clinking. The only evidence of an audience's presence is the applause at the end of songs or after a solo, but you don't hear anything distracting.

The tunes are all standards but with fresh arrangements expertly executed by a very tight band. Like much of Sutton's work, this CD is very upbeat and infused with her enthusiasm. Even the ballads sound upbeat. Sutton sings with superlative clarity and scats with authority and aplomb. In a bit of role reversal, She pushes the rhythm as she sings "Surrey with the Fringe on top" as a duet with drummer Ray Brinker who brilliantly and melodically supports the vocals with a bass-like sound on the tom tom and bass drum.

The Band Tierney Is With

Bassist Kevin Axt is a 20-year veteran of the LA music scene. He has performed, recorded and toured with artists as diverse as Natalie Cole, Jack McDuff, Jimmy Smith, Hank Jones, Phil Woods, Toni Tennille, Lalo Schifrin, Vinx, Kitaro, Bobby Shew, Chuck Mangione, Jack Jones, Barry Manilow, Dave Koz, David Benoit, Bob Florence, Jack Sheldon, and Melissa Manchester to name just a few. A resident of the San Fernando Valley, Kevin continues to be one of the busiest bassists in LA.

Ray Brinker graduated from North Texas State University with a degree in jazz studies and was a member of the Grammy nominated One O'Clock Lab Band. He then toured worldwide with jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson for five years. Ray's performing and recording credits include: Pat Benatar, Joe Cocker, David Lee Roth, Woody Herman, Brian Setzer, Cinderella, Michel Legrand, Jack Sheldon, Joe Pass, Barefoot Servants, Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band and Steve Allen. Most recently Ray recorded with Ray Charles for his soon to be released duets record with Norah Jones, James Taylor, Diana Krall, Bonnie Raitt and Michael McDonald. Ray's film credits include Shrek, Chicken Run, Brother Bear, Dear God and The Alamo.

Trey Henry is one of the most in-demand bassists in LA and has worked with everyone including Maynard Ferguson, Michel Legrand, Andre Previn, Henry Mancini, Herbie Hancock, Julie Andrews and Merv Griffin to name just a few. The list of recordings Trey has done is extensive and ranges from The American Jazz Philharmonic with Jack Elliot, Phil Woods and Ray Brown to The Jack Sheldon Big Band.

Photo by Ken Franklin

Christian Jacob is a classically trained French pianist who crossed over to jazz and is now living in Los Angeles, CA. Christian has recorded two CDs for Concord Records, "Maynard Ferguson Presents Christian Jacob" and "Time Lines". Christian also records, composes and arranges for many big bands and orchestras, as well as performing with his own trio, Flora Purim and The Tierney Sutton Band.

Educated at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Tierney became a semi-finalist in the Thelonious Monk Jazz Vocal Competition in 1998. Her first solo CD, "Introducing Tierney Sutton" (1999), was released to rave reviews and nominated for a 1999 Indie Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album. Later that year, Tierney signed with the Telarc Jazz label. On "Unsung Heroes," released in March 2000, she took popular jazz standards that are usually performed instrumentally ("Recordame," "Joy Spring," "Speak No Evil," "Con Alma," etc.) and recorded them with vocals. Tierney's second Telarc project, "Blue in Green," released in June 2001, was an album of music written by or associated with pianist Bill Evans. "Something Cool," released in September 2002, rose to #1 on the jazz charts and continues to garner extensive airplay across the U.S. and Europe. In March 2004, with the release of Dancing in the Dark, which debuted in the Billboard Jazz top ten and remained on the charts for over 15 weeks.

This latest offering is a very satisfying recording for Sutton fans and maybe also for a few folks who thought they didn't like vocal jazz.

I'm With the Band - Track List:
• 1. Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise
• 2. Let's Face The Music And Dance
• 3. 'S Wonderful
• 4. Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea
• 5. Two For The Road
• 6. East Of The Sun (And West Of The Moon)
• 7. People Will Save We're In Love
• 8. If I Loved You
• 9. Surrey With The Fringe On Top
• 10. Cheek To Cheek
• 11. Blue Skies
• 12. I Get A Kick Out Of You
• 13. The Lady Is A Tramp
• 14. What A Little Moonlight Will Do
• 15. On My Way To You
• 16. Devil May Care