As Tierney Sutton ’86 sang the words “blue skies smiling on me,” sighs could be heard from the audience and smiles seen. Happiness permeated last Friday night’s benefit performance for the Green Street Arts Center (GSAC) by Tierney Sutton and Trio.
An early event of Homecoming weekend, Tierney Sutton’s concert served as a medium to strengthen Wesleyan’s connections to the art center, which was co-founded by the University and Middletown community members last spring. Sutton gave the concert as a gift to the center to raise money and publicity.
Sutton strutted onto the stage in a stunning red evening gown, her three band members dressed in black behind her. The show was completely sold out and those without tickets were turned away. A buzz of excitement and energy could be heard throughout the audience as people reconnected with old friends, faculty, and students. An eclectic mix of benefactors, Wesleyan families, students lucky enough to get one of the 25 free student tickets, people associated with the Green Street Arts Center, and lovers of good jazz filled Crowell Concert Hall to the max.
Ricardo Morris, the director of the GSAC, introduced Sutton, described services of the GSAC and thanked Wesleyan and Sutton for their support and generosity. Over fifty students have volunteered time at the GSAC since its opening in January 2005.
“Wesleyan students share their gifts, talents, and enthusiasm for life,” Morris said.
Sutton jumped into stunning vocal scales and her band slowly entered in behind her. Sutton’s band has been together for twelve years and has recorded seven CDs. Her band includes Kevin Axt on bass, Ray Brinker on drums, and Christian Jacob on piano.
The group played many songs from their new live album and some old favorites. One crowd pleaser was an arrangement on an old Irvin Berlin song that Sutton promised would take the audience “on a band adventure ride.”
Sutton constantly mentioned how talented her band members are and showcased them often during the songs. The last song of her first set, a rearrangement of “Ding, Dong, the Witch is Dead” highlighted all three of her band members while leaving room for acrobatic vocals. Sutton sang quickly, clearly, and beautifully through the quick dramatic changes in speed and intensity throughout the song.
Throughout the night Sutton spoke of her time at Wesleyan, which she credits with her decision to become a jazz singer—a decision catalyzed when she saw jazz great Betty Carter sing on Crowell’s stage. She also described teachers who inspired and aided her love and appreciation of music.
“By the time I graduated from Wesleyan with a degree in Russian literature I knew I wanted to be a jazz singer,” Sutton said, drawing laughs.
Sutton then sang “The Girl from Ipanema” in Russian.
“This is the most expensive eight bars in music history,” she said. “When my father is in the audience he weeps.”
The second set of the night, which included songs by Cole Porter, Johnny Mandel, and Jimmy Rowles, proved to be just as beautiful as the first. The song “Wouldn’t it be Lovely” from the musical “My Fair Lady” was a crowd pleaser that allowed Sutton to use her full vocal range.
The night ended with two standing ovations and an encore performance of the Bill Evans song “We Will Meet Again,” dedicated to a friend her band recently lost and to her Wesleyan family and friends.
“It is wonderful to be back in this space that changed my life,” Sutton said.
“It was a successful fund-raiser for the Green Street Art Center,” said Dean of the College Maria Cruz-Saco. “The GSAC is a powerful concept that Wesleyan fully and enthusiastically supports. Tierney Sutton’s generosity is creating a model relationship for others to follow.”
Lillian Siegel ’08 said that Sutton was a particularly good choice for parents weekend.
“My dad laughed when she said she sympathizes with parents who are paying way too much for their children to go here who in the end can’t do anything useful with their major,” Siegel said. “It was inspiring to hear how much of the world was opened to her when she came to Wesleyan.”
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