11/18/2021
Performances and Artists
Excerpts from a 2021 interview. See Tierney Sutton's upcoming show on March 9, 2024.
Leading Jazz Group Tierney Sutton Band to Perform Wide Variety of Hits
After three decades together, the Tierney Sutton Band boasts a worldwide following – and one of the jazz group’s biggest fans is Hollywood icon Clint Eastwood.
This has led to unexpected opportunities.
The band performed several concerts at Eastwood’s private country club, Sutton says, which followed with him appearing at more of their shows in 2016.
“When the band was playing at Catalina’s in Hollywood, he came two nights in a row,” recalls Sutton, an eight-time Grammy nominee. “At that point, I knew he was a real fan.”
Not long after that, Eastwood personally phoned Sutton.
He invited her and the band’s pianist Christian Jacob to check out a new film he just finished directing. It happened to be the now-hit movie “Sully,” starring Tom Hanks as the real-life pilot who succeeded in an emergency landing on New York’s Hudson River.
Sutton watched the movie on a Wednesday. By that Saturday, she says, her band was working directly with Eastwood on scoring the film’s music.
“(Clint) likes to work very quickly, but he’s a wonderful collaborator,” Sutton says. “He was with us every step of the way.”
This quick dive into film scoring reflects how adaptable and versatile the Tierney Sutton Band can be.
The group earns acclaim for reimagining the Great American Songbook, recording original jazz pieces and also honoring a range of music legends like Frank Sinatra, Joni Mitchell and Sting.
“The band has a pretty high standard for what we expect in live shows. I used to joke that if the audience didn’t levitate, we failed,” Sutton says. “We truly strive for a transcendent experience.”
Playing for the Movies… and More
Prior to working on a hit Eastwood film, the band’s virtuoso musicians enjoyed many other brushes with stardom.
Bassist Kevin Axt played on the soundtracks of acclaimed feature films “The Greatest Showman,” “La La Land” and “Crazy Rich Asians.” Additional bassist Trey Henry has performed on the Academy Awards and the Emmy Awards, and pianist Jacob served as music director for Broadway legend Betty Buckley. Drummer Ray Brinker has performed and recorded with musical greats such as Pat Benatar and Ray Charles.
“You can describe (our band relationship) as a healthy marriage — definitely ups and downs, but a lot of love and respect,” says Sutton, who herself headlines at top venues such as The Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center and Jazz at Lincoln Center. “They’ve spoiled me because of what incredible musicians they are, but even more because of what wonderful human beings they are.”
This vast talent and experience feed directly into the band’s songwriting, she adds, with every band member equally contributing.
“For many years we did all of our arranging in complete collaboration, meaning one of us would offer an idea and we’d play and hone it together,” she says. “More often than not, we start to feel and agree how the arrangement should change at the same time. It even sometimes happens spontaneously during a performance.”
A Concert of Highlights
Audiences can expect a night of musical surprises at the January concerts, Sutton says.
“One of the habits and traditions of the band is that we don’t settle on the set until we soundcheck in the room,” she says. “Every room, piano and space has a different feeling, so we like to see how things will feel.”
The band will likely perform a wide range of songs from their several albums, she notes, to celebrate the group’s longevity.
“We are planning this year to celebrate 30 years playing together,” she says.