Jazzy Tribute To Sinatra

Taking inspiration from ballads recorded by Frank Sinatra, jazz vocalist Tierney Sutton's new album, "Dancing in the Dark," would make "Ol' Blue Eyes" proud.

Sutton performed some singles from the album on The Saturday Early Show's Second Cup Café.

"Dancing in the Dark" is Sutton's first album made up exclusively of Sinatra tunes, but it isn't the first time she's paid tribute to the legendary singer. In fact, each of her first four albums contains one or more Sinatra songs.

Sutton started singing in Milwaukee, Wis., in choirs and musical theater. But it was jazz that pushed her desire to become a professional singer.

A scholarship took Sutton to Berklee College of Music in Boston. Soon after she was performing throughout New England, opening for Max Roach and the Billy Taylor trio at the Bright Moments of Jazz Fest and in other prestigious national jazz festivals, as well as in Europe.

Sutton's first solo album, "Introducing Tierney Sutton," was released to rave reviews and reached the top 50 on the Gavin Jazz radio charts. The CD was also nominated for a 1999 Indie Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album.

On 2000's "Unsung Heroes," Sutton sang popular jazz standards that are commonly known as instrumentals: Joe Henderson's "Recordame," Clifford Brown's "Joy Spring," Wayne Shorter's "Speak No Evil," Dizzy Gillespie's "Con Alma," and others.

Sutton's "Blue in Green," released in June 2001, was an album of music written by or associated with pianist Bill Evans.

In 2002, Sutton's "Something Cool" included a swinging rendition of "Route 66," Lerner and Loewe's "Wouldn't It Be Loverly," "I've Grown Accustomed To His Face" and "Show Me," Willie Nelson's "Crazy," and a fresh arrangement of "Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead," one of Sutton's concert favorites.

An active jazz educator, Sutton heads the Jazz Vocal department at the University of Southern California.