Born: December 6 Primary Instrument: Vocal
Kelley Suttenfield is an acoustic jazz vocalist known for her unique interpretive style that clearly resonates with her listeners. Susan Frances of JazzTimes proclaims “Smoky, sultry fumes emanate from [her] vocals like liquid fire.” Kelley performs regularly in her home base of New York City, and has toured the Eastern US, Denmark, and the UK. Growing up in Virginia, Kelley routinely performed as a vocal soloist in school and church choirs, and won multiple state classical piano competitions by the age of ten. Later, while pursuing a degree in musical theatre, Kelley relocated to New York City, and that’s when her musical priorities began to shift towards jazz but with a more acoustic sound. She also took a detour from the Great American Songbook repertoire, developing a singular, contemporary style that honors the jazz tradition, while drawing from a deep well of music she declines to classify by genre. Her debut CD Where Is Love? was released to critical acclaim. George Harris of JazzWeekly writes: “Here’s a singer with a lot of great ideas, and the ability to deliver them. It’s her debut disc, and the closest thing I can compare it to is Madeleine Peyroux’s debut Dreamland...give me more!” Jim Santella of L.A. Jazz Scene declares: “Suttenfield and her band give a superb performance with this session of familiar songs; the creative ideas shown here indicate a deep appreciation for what’s most important in modern jazz.” A second CD is planned for release in 2013.
“Smoky, sultry fumes emanate from Kelley Suttenfield’s vocals like liquid fire. Here's a gal who puts her entire being into the songs cradling the lyrics in her vocals and stoking the embers in the verses with a velvety touch.” - JazzTimes
A nice band and a superb singer make this recording a worthwhile addition to any jazzophiles collection. 5 stars.” - eJazznews.com
“She has the vocal chops to attract hordes of people, the charisma to make a lasting impression on their minds, and a passionate delivery that can penetrate their hearts.” - JazzReview.com
Where Is Love?
Rhombus Records
2009
Tracks: 1. Sugar (3:37); 2. Twilight Time (4:59); 3. Where is Love? (4:53); 4. Charade (2:53); 5. And I Love Her (4:28); 6. Ode to Billy Joe (5:50); 7. Coracao Vagabundo (4:21); 8. Open the Door (5:22); 9. Nature Boy (6:46); 10. West Coast Blues (3:51); I Fall in Love Too Easily (5:03); 12. My One and Only Love (5:21).
Personnel: Kelley Suttenfield: vocals. Michael Cabe: piano, Fender Rhodes. Jesse Lewis: electric guitar. Tony Romano: acoustic guitar. Matt Aronoff: bass. Brian Adler: drums, tablas.
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