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Tierney Sutton

8-time Grammy-nominated jazz vocalist 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.

In May 2016 Tierney was approached by legendary Director Clint Eastwood. The original score to his box-office smash, “Sully”, was created by Tierney Sutton Band 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”.

Tierney 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. She has also taught and mentored some of the finest new generation of singers including Gretchen Parlato and Sara Gazarek.

Tierney Sutton and Tamir Hendelman: Spring

by Pierre Giroux
May 8, 2026

There is a quiet courage in making an album like Spring, with just two seasoned musicians sitting with the material and letting it develop. In unsettled times, it feels almost revolutionary. Tierney Sutton has long understood that the heart of a song lies in its words. Here, she treats the lyrics as truths to be uncovered. She bends a line just enough to make the listener hear it anew. Tamir Hendelman proves to be the ideal partner, with his refined ...

Radio & Podcasts

Four new releases from The Ben Markley Big Band, Brian Lynch, Tierney Sutton & Tamir Hendelman, and Ulysses Owens, Jr.

by George Graham
April 28, 2026

George Graham presents four new and varied jazz releases. Playlist Ben Markley “Tell the Truth" from Tuesday Morning Feeling (OA2l) 06:13 Ben Markley “NPS" from Tuesday Morning Feeling (OA2) 07:41 Brian Lynch “The Luck of the Draw" from Torch Bearers (Holistic Music Works) 6:02 Brian Lynch “7-24" from The Luck of the Draw (Holistic Music Works) 5:21 tierney sutton and Tamir Hendelman “S'Wonderful" from Spring (BFM Jazz) 5:38 Tierney Sutton and Tamir Hendleman"April Come She Will" from Spring ...

Album Review

Tierney Sutton: Meets Charlier/Sourisse: Talking to the Sun, featuring Serge Merlaud

Read "Meets Charlier/Sourisse: Talking to the Sun, featuring Serge Merlaud" reviewed by Katchie Cartwright

by Katchie Cartwright
December 23, 2025

A light choro with a pandeiro beat, a clever text and a rangy melody that winds around itself, ramping up the tempo on the final turn, “Laptop Choro" is the pick hit of Tierney Sutton Meets Charlier/Sourisse: Talking to the Sun. Sutton's lyric, a relatable contemporary tale, offers a litany of complaints about the digital life: wasting an inordinate amount time on hold with insufferable music in order to speak with a software specialist, reboots that cause whatever ...

Album Review

Bevan Manson featuring Tierney Sutton with The Hollywood Studio Orchestra: Talking to Trees

Read "Talking to Trees" reviewed by Nicholas F. Mondello

by Nicholas F. Mondello
October 4, 2024

Bevan Manson is an artist who has a creative duality. As a pianist, composer/arranger and educator, he's been successful in classical and jazz environments. With Talking to Trees, Manson provides an array of both originals and jazz standards, most with an arboreal tint, as the title indicates. The work is a validation that his pen, guiding the talents of vocalist Tierney Sutton and L.A.'s premium players, can make the familiar fascinating and the novel intriguing. Miles Davis' ...

Live Review

Tierney Sutton and Tamir Hendelman at the Jazz Forum

by Scott Lichtman
March 18, 2024

Tierney Sutton and Tamir Hendelman Jazz Forum Tarrytown, NY March 15, 2024 Tierney Sutton and Tamir Hendelman brought an expressive evening of voice and piano to the Jazz Forum in Tarrytown NY, March 15th, 2024. The overarching theme of the performance was “songs about Spring." There's a variety of reasons that every recording Sutton has made in the last decade has been nominated for a “Best Jazz Vocal Album" Grammy. Among these are ...

Profile

Tierney Sutton: An Instrumentalist’s Singer

by Mathew Bahl
August 22, 2023

"Jazz demands something of you," says Tierney Sutton. The Los Angeles based singer is discussing the challenge of selling complicated, improvised music in a culture addicted to simple, pre-packaged formulas. “Being barraged in the media teaches people not to engage, not to seek great art, not to listen with their own ears, not to see with their own eyes," observes Sutton. “Jazz is this theme and variations work, and if the person who's listening is not interested in ...

Liner Notes

Lorraine Feather's Language Turns A Witty Phrase

by Ken Dryden
March 31, 2023

I got to know Lorraine Feather through reviewing several of her CDs, amazed by her gifts as a lyricist and singer, who was equally at home with witty songs and tender ballads. I first met Lorraine when she was performing at the late lamented Manhattan club Danny's Skylight Room with pianist Shelly Berg. We would chat during IAJE conferences and I was delighted when she invited me to write the liner notes for this CD. This release stands the test ...