
Paris Sessions (BFM Jazz)
Tierney Sutton
Released September 16, 2014
Grammy Nominee for Best Jazz Vocal Album 2015
YouTube:
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=E8KZrZQdJDQ&list=OLAK5uy_lKhYLKyLEfcfHqZ7gJT7hzwuFjVTUxb64
Spotify:
About:
Following widespread acclaim for her heartfelt homage to Joni Mitchell on 2013‘s Grammy-nominated After Blue, singer Tierney Sutton returns in the revealing setting of duos and trios on Paris Sessions, to be released September 16th, 2014. Called “devastatingly intimate” by her colleague Mark Summer, cellist and founder of the Turtle Island Quartet, this collection of romantic standards and three originals by French guitarist Serge Merlaud casts a spell from the dreamy opening track, “You Must Believe in Spring,” to the delicate closer, “Answer Me, My Love.”
Recorded in one creative burst on December 10, & 11 2012 at Val d’Orge Studio, Paris Sessions features Sutton’s soaring wordless vocals on three Merlaud compositions (“Ilm,” “Asma” and “Izzat”). Elsewhere, she brings her impeccable articulation and natural phrasing to the lyrics of Alan and Marilyn Bergman (Michel Legrand’s “You Must Believe in Spring”), Lorenz Hart (Richard Rodgers’ “You’re Nearer”), Carl Sigman (Duke Ellington’s “All Too Soon”), Redd Evans and Arthur Kent (“Don’t Go To Strangers”) and Edward Heyman (Johnny Green’s “Body and Soul”) The intimate chemistry between singer, guitarist Merlaud and Tierney Sutton Band bassist Kevin Axt is maintained throughout. In the tradition of quiet classics like Frank Sinatra’s In the Wee Small Hours, John Coltrane’s Ballads and John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman, Sutton’s 11th recording as a leader sets an alluring mood that carries through from beginning to end. “I wanted to just sing the song and do sweet, straightforward treatments,” says Sutton. “No bells and whistles, no crazy arrangements…just the essence and the mood of the songs. And I think something succeeded because if I’m in an agitated mood and I put this record on, it just centers me.”
Track Listing:
1. You Must Believe in Spring (Alan Bergman / Marilyn Bergman / Jacques Demy / Michel Legrand) 3:29
2. Ilm (Serge Merlaud) 2:18
3. Don’t Go to Strangers (Redd Evans / Arthur Kent / Dave Mann) 5:55
4. Beija-Flor (Nelson Cavaquinho / Noel Silva) 5:55
5. You’re Nearer (Lorenz Hart / Richard Rogers) 3:14
6. Estate (Bruno Brighetti / Bruno Martino) 5:21
7. All Too Soon (Duke Ellington / Carl Sigman) 4:56
8. Asma (Serge Merlaud) 3:45
9. Body and Soul (Frank Eyton / John Green / Edward Heyman / Robert Sour) 3:35
10. Izaat (Serge Merlaud) 5:48
11. Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me (Rube Bloom / Ted Koehler) 4:39
12. Answer Me, My Love (Fred Rausch / Carl Sigman / Gerhard Winkler) 3:41
Personnel:
Tierney Sutton: vocals
Serge Merlaud: acoustic guitar, electric guitar
Kevin Axt: acoustic bass guitar
Recorded December 10 & 11, 2012, at Studio Val d’Orge, Epinay Sur Orge, France
Produced by Tierney Sutton and Serge Merlaud
Recorded and Mixed by Jean Taxis
Mastered by Andy Waterman
Cover Photo: Tatjiana Shoan
Package Design: Dale Voelker
Review:
Think you know every aspect of Tierney Sutton’s artistic persona? Think again. Hearing the Paris Sessions is to hear Sutton anew. Sure, it’s that same one-of-a-kind voice, but there’s no Tierney Sutton Band here, incredibly novel arrangements aren’t a priority on this one, and there’s no grand umbrella theme to contend with. This is simply a captivating listen-by-candlelight album that strikes to the heart of Tierney Sutton.
Paris Sessions is easily the most informal item in Sutton’s discography, but the idea of informality shouldn’t carry a negative connotation; quite the opposite, in fact. This is a work of unfiltered beauty, successfully pairing vocal temptress with guitar and bass guitar. Two of the numbers recorded at this two day session—”Don’t Go To Strangers” and “Answer Me, My Love”—appeared on Sutton’s After Blue (BFM Jazz, 2013); the other ten—more standards, some bossa nova detours, and three originals written by Sutton’s chief collaborator on this project, guitarist Serge Merlaud —are heard for the first time.
Merlaud is along for this entire ride, an equal partner seated beside the singer. Some brief numbers even cede more than a minute to Merlaud, allowing for proper mood setting and introductions (“You Must Believe In Spring” and “You’re Nearer”). Elsewhere, Sutton leads the way, coolly gliding into a scene in inimitable fashion (“Estate”). Seven of the twelve numbers on the program also include the acoustic bass guitar work of Kevin Axt. He provides integral support when holding down the bottom end, but he also takes on the role of rhythm guitarist on several occasions, allowing Sutton and Merlaud to drift along above.
Sometimes it takes the arrival of an album to realize that something was missing in the first place. Such is the case with Paris Sessions. This is the hushed Sutton stunner that the jazz world didn’t even know it needed.
Dan Bilawsky (All About Jazz)