Jazz vocalist Tierney Sutton's second release, "Blue in Green," is a stunning tribute to pianist Bill Evans. Evans, one of the most influential pianists of the past 50 years, expanded the rhythmic and harmonic possibilities of jazz. Evans also knew how to play to both a general audience and other musicians, as on the well-known Miles Davis release "Kind of Blue," to which Evans contributed both compositions and piano. Hence the saying: "Everybody digs Bill Evans."
In particular, Evans' piano trios moved beyond the on-the-beat phrasing and melodic pyrotechnics of be-bop to create a complex new jazz vocabulary that still sounded great. Sutton takes the "across-the-bar" phrasing and modal harmonies of Evans and puts them to work with her singing. Supported by her longtime trio, she sings with sensitivity and sophistication on tunes that Evans often played. Sutton makes the difficult chord changes and wide-ranging melodies sound easy and lovely.
Even more impressive is the way she captures the introspective, moody feeling with which Evans always played. Several of the songs are upbeat, but most have a serene "blueness" to them that relies in large part on the delicate, natural interplay between Sutton and her trio. Joe LaBarbera, Evans' drummer, sits in on one cut to give his seal of approval to this immensely satisfying session.
Sutton's first CD, "Unsung Heroes," was a rollicking affair, with horns and guitar adding vibrant solos on well-picked standards. "Blue in Green" stays in a more reflective, intensely focused frame, producing a seasoned -- and, in many ways, more satisfying -- work. Sutton is one of the best new jazz singers and has already moved beyond her home base of Southern California to play gigs in New York and at European festivals.
Everybody's gonna dig Tierney Sutton.