I'm with the Band

Tierney Sutton

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 23, 2005)
• Original Release Date: August 23, 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Telarc
• ASIN: B000A8AXHM
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #58,650 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

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 Say 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. Lady Is a Tramp

14. What a Little Moonlight Will Do

15. On My Way to You

16. Devil May Care

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Tierney Sutton is a consummate jazz singer, combining emotion and invention with a purity of sound. While some of her previous recordings have reflected on specific influences, Blue in Green devoted to material associated with Bill Evans and Dancing in the Dark to Frank Sinatra, I’m with the Band emphasizes that Sutton really is with the band. Here we find Sutton improvising along with pianist Christian Jacob, drummer Ray Brinker and the alternating bassists Trey Henry and Kevin Axt on a spectrum of standards by the Gershwins, Irving Berlin and Rodgers and Hammerstein. While there are moments of sublime beauty on the ballads, like "If I Loved You" and "Blue Skies," Sutton clearly takes special delight in the up-tempo scatting of "S’Wonderful" and "Surrey with the Fringe on Top." --Stuart Broomer

From the Artist

NOW A GRAMMY FINALIST!!!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Clockwork, January 20, 2006

By	Samuel Chell (Kenosha,, WI United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

In case you haven't noticed, all the attention these days in the world of jazz singing is on female singers. Small wonder, when you survey the abundance of talent. Tierney Sutton, Cheryl Bentyne, Karrin Allyson, Anne Hampton Calloway--all are virtuosic performers, positively "scary" in terms of musical as well as vocal technique. Tierney Sutton may be the most "frightening" of all, based on the evidence of this impressive session. She throws down the gauntlet, raises the bar, sets a new standard in terms of not merely vocal acrobatics and jazz chops but repertory, inventive arrangements, live performance, and a "personal" rhythm section that's as state-of-the-art as they come.

Not only are the tempos out of sight but, despite the presence of her formidable pianist Christian Jacob, Sutton demonstrates that she requires no more accompaniment than a bass ("'S Wonderful," "People Will Say We're in Love") or drums ("Surrey with the Fringe," "What a Little Moonlight Can Do"). Her articulation is up to any lyric at any speed (she closes off vowels faster and gets more mileage out of consonants than any singer I've heard), and her pitch and rhythmic sense are absolutely secure if not dead-on perfect.

In fact, it's that glossy perfection that detracts from the overall communicative effectiveness of this album. Even though recorded before a "live" audience at Birdland, the ambience is so sterile and controlled, the program so calculated and "smooth" that the occasional applause intrudes like a guilty afterthought. Maybe the producers needed to use less directional mics or Tierney needed to step back from her mic, or perhaps just one or two of the 16 tunes could have been served without the ingenious harmonic-rhythmic facelifts.

I'd love to catch Tierney Sutton live because this album, though a highly professional production and head-turning achievement, is no substitute for the real thing.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow, December 3, 2005

By	David B. Clark (Council Bluffs, IA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was fortunate enough to hear Tierney and the Band in an intimate concert hall in Brownville, Nebraska shortly before they recorded this cd. I sat spellbound and amazed during that performance. I always measure a jazz singer more by how they sound live. Is the singer's pitch and tone as pure as it is on studio recording? Are the singer's improvisations and inflections always the same or are they a spontaneous artist? I was floored by Miss Sutton. She is even stronger live than she is on her recordings. This cd just confirms that opinion.

The thing that really impresses me is that this isn't a mere copy of that live performance I heard. In others words, her improvisations are not merely rehearsed. The same can be said for all the members of her incredible band. I can't imagine a better collection of jazz musicians collaborating and being better. Is there a better piano player out there right now than Christian? I don't think so. If you haven't heard his solo cd, get it. Ray Brinker is merely a God. Look up tasteful and you will see Ray. It doesn't matter which of her two bass players play, each is simply incredible.

The thing that I realy enjoy about this group of musicians in their collective ability to make standards that have been recorded thousands of time sound fresh and new. They do not stick to accepted tempos and styles. Anyone who thinks this is a bad thing is NOT a someone who truly enjoys and respects jazz.

27 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I'm amazed at the polarization this album invokes, September 30, 2005

By	Bradley Wood (Canoga Park, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

....but I have to weigh in on the overwhelmingly positive side of the ledger. There is no doubt that I've heard Tierney live about as often as anyone except her bandmembers, and have heard peaks and highlights that will never be captured again. Indeed, as fantastic as the band is, there are still the memories of some intimate settings with the great Dave Mackay at the now-defunct Montleone's in Tarzana Calif. and sometimes supporting musicians that were simply sublime. I've also teased Christian Jacob that he doesn't make enough mistakes, and all he's done is to take more chances all the time---and still doesn't make mistakes!

But if there were one criticism of the recorded oeurve prior that was marginally telling, it was that there was the slight lack of spontaneity that we lucky ones hear in live performance. Tierney is a perfectionist, which makes her improvisations all the more remarkable for their range and wit.

Now we have a live album that begins to indicate what typical sets are like. There is still just a little sense of holding back that I hear, but less than any other CD so far.

My friend Tupp Turner, perhaps Tierney's most steadfast fan, told me he wished that there had been just a bit more ambiance and stage patter included. On this I'm divided, since it would have meant that much less music, and would probably have worn more quickly on repeated hearing.

So---if you have any chance to hear her live, make a special effort---she and the band do not tour that extensively. But in the meantime this spendid album will get you most of the way there.