Search - Tierney Sutton :: On the Other Side

Not my favorite Tierney

Cheble | Southern, CA | 02/22/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Her trio is great, she sounds good- but her other recordings are more enjoyable to me. This album is made up of songs with the word happy in them but most are done contrary to their original styles- so most are sort of dark sounding and down. The one bright spot is the duet with Jack Sheldon on "I want to be happy". I would suggest one of her other CD's if this is your first Tierney Sutton album."

"Happiness Is A Funny Business"

Rebecca*rhapsodyinblue* | CA USA | 10/10/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Happiness is a funny business. When we started to look at this material, at the idea of happiness, and its subtext, we all realized that there was something deep here - and a lot of questions. This album was built on those questions. Last November, I lost my mom. During 30 years of tremendous suffering, my mother often referred to herself as a happy woman. I'll say it again, happiness is a funny business." ~ Tierney Sutton, 2007 ~



Is it really? Well, Ms. Tierney Sutton said so -- that happiness is a "funny business."



Recorded in 2006 at the famous Capitol Records in Los Angeles and released the following year under Telarc, The Tierney Sutton Band's "On The Other Side" is a thematic album about happiness, a very complex word that has been defined in so many different perspectives. One of my many definitions of happiness is listening to this album of traditionally happy and uplifting songs ingeniously arranged and interpreted with contemporary flair. It is such a delight to listen to these timeless gems with fresh twists and new flavors. Many thanks to Tierney Sutton's exquisite vocal artistry and her superb bandmates for an extraordinarily unique and beautiful listening experience -- Christian Jacob (piano), Ray Brinker (drums), Jack Sheldon (trumpet/vocals), Trey Henry and Kevin Axt (bass).



A very uplifting song, "Smile," was given a special treatment making it one of my absolute highlights from this program. Ditto with "You Are My Sunshine," "Sometimes I'm Happy" and a song from Rodgers & Hammerstein's musical "South Pacific," "Happy Talk." While I love both versions of "Happy Days," my ears are more attracted to the second interpretation done in a much calculated and very slow reading of the lyrics as opposed to the first which is more upbeat and jazzy. Her takes on "Make Someone Happy," "Glad To Be Unhappy" and "Haunted Heart" are the emotional highlights from this set.



Although this album did not ultimately get the Grammy nod on its nomination for "Best Jazz Vocal Album" for the 2008 Grammy Awards, to me, it is still a winner and deserves my highest recommendation. This is my very first exposure to Ms. Sutton's artistry and I'm so impressed and pleased with what I've heard so I'm looking forward to adding the rest of her recordings to my vocal jazz collection starting off with I'm with the Band, Something Cool, Blue in Green, Unsung Heroes, Dancing in the Dark and her debut album, Introducing Tierney Sutton.



What sets Tierney Sutton apart is her impressive vocal flair and style that defines simple elegance and sheer perfection. She could easily make an impact on any jazz lover's auditory sense. And this album is a testament of her outstanding qualities as a jazz stylist. She has all what it takes to be in the category of one of the modern-day jazz divas.



With all the musical goodies that surround this wonderful recording, what more can you ask for in an album?

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