Sutton was born in
Omaha, Nebraska, but grew up in
Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She received a bachelor's degree from
Wesleyan University in
Middletown, Connecticut, majoring in Russian studies, and attended the
Berklee College of Music in Boston. She was runner-up to
Teri Thornton in the 1998 vocal competition at the
Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, in Washington, DC. For more than 20 years, Sutton has led the Tierney Sutton Band with pianist
Christian Jacob, bassists Trey Henry and Kevin Axt, and drummer Ray Brinker. The band is an incorporated unit and makes all musical and business decisions together. They tour throughout the world and have headlined at
Carnegie Hall,
The Hollywood Bowl, and
Jazz at Lincoln Center. Sutton has been a
Bahaʼi since 1981 and explains her band's arranging style as "based on the principle of consultation – the band is very much run on Baha'i principles. There is very much a sense that what we do is essentially a spiritual thing and everyone's voice needs to be heard."
Paris Sessions (
Varèse Sarabande, 2014), featuring guitarist Serge Merlaud and bassist Kevin Axt, received a
Grammy Award nomination for
Best Jazz Vocal Album in 2014, while
The Sting Variations was nominated in the same category in 2016. Pianist Christian Jacob composed and arranged soundtrack music for the
Clint Eastwood production
Sully, which was performed by Sutton and the band. Sutton appeared with
Frank Sinatra, Jr. on
Patrick Williams’ 2015 CD
Home Suite Home, performing "I’ve Been Around." The recording earned a
Grammy Award nomination for
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album. == Discography ==