Name: Dancing in The Dark
Brand: Telarc
SKU: 394790
Availability: OutOfStock

Performer Notes

Personnel includes: Tierney Sutton (vocals); Gary Foster (flute); Christian Jacob (piano); Trey Henry (bass); Ray Brinker (drums).
Recorded at Conway Studios, Hollywood, California and O'Henry Studios, Burbank, California in 2003.
Tributee: Frank Sinatra.
Personnel: Cameron Patrick, Barbara Porter, Erika Walczak, Sharon Jackson , Kathleen Robertson , Edmund Stein, Kristin Fife, Gina Kronstadt, Vladimir Polimatidi, Juliann French, Peter Kent, Susan Chatman (violin); Lynn Grants, Jorge Moragu, Margot Aldcroft, Harry Shirinian (viola); Gary Foster (flute); Bradley Kintscher (horns); Christian Jacob (piano); Ray Brinker (drums).
Liner Note Authors: Jonathan Schwartz; Tierney Sutton.
Recording information: Conway Studios, Studio C, Hollywood, CA (06/08/2003-08/12/2003); O'Henry Studios, Studio A, Burbank, CA (06/08/2003-08/12/2003).
Photographer: Pamela Springsteen.
Arrangers: Christian Jacob; Ray Brinker; Tierney Sutton; Trey Henry.
This isn't Sutton's tribute to Sinatra, although all the material here was recorded and made famous by him. Instead, it's her working through the nooks and crannies of his songbook, and bringing things out and putting her own particular polish on them. It could be something with strings, such as "What'll I Do?" or the intimacy of "I'll Be Around," which is as much a plea as a reassurance and resignation. Her version of "I Think of You," whose melody comes originally from Rachmaninov, is gloriously subtle, the emotion as softly drawn out as the syllables. "I Could Have Told You" offers comfort and a shoulder to cry on, a gentle embrace that's almost a whisper in Sutton's hands. The music here is at its best when the orchestra keeps away -- they simply become overkill, the too-sweet icing on an already-delicious cake. Perhaps her biggest test, though, comes at the end of the album, tackling "Fly Me to the Moon," followed by a medley of "Last Dance" and "Dancing in the Dark," taking on some of Sinatra's most famous pieces. While on the former Sutton doesn't always dig to the absolute heart of the song, the arrangement is stunning, with some outstanding piano from Christian Jacob that frees the songs from its '50s shackles. Sutton does sparkle on the other piece, however, especially "Dancing in the Dark," where the orchestral contributions are kept to a minimum, and the tracks swings in a minimalist fashion, Sutton's voice imbued with the magic of the night. The album might have been inspired by Sinatra, but in her own way, Sutton has gone beyond her inspiration. ~ Chris Nickson

Professional Reviews

JazzTimes (3/04, pp.75-6) - "[I]t proves that those who sing what they believe and believe what they sing will always be coolest. Just like Sinatra."

Mojo (Publisher) (p.108) - 4 stars out of 5 - "[W]ith a trio prepared to winkle out something fresh and Tierney singing better than ever, it's probably her finest outing."