Home » Jazz Musicians » Sting

Sting

Born 2 October 1951, in Wallsend, north-east England, Gordon Sumner's life started to change the evening a fellow musician in the Phoenix Jazzmen caught sight of his black and yellow striped sweater and decided to re-christen him Sting. Sting paid his early dues playing bass with local outfits The Newcastle Big Band, The Phoenix Jazzmen, Earthrise and Last Exit, the latter of which featured his first efforts at song writing. Last Exit were big in the North East, but their jazz fusion was doomed to fail when punk rock exploded onto the music scene in 1976. Stewart Copeland, drummer with Curved Air, saw Last Exit on a visit to Newcastle and while the music did nothing for him he did recognise the potential and charisma of the bass player. The two hooked up shortly afterwards and within months, Sting had left his teaching job and moved to London.

Seeing punk as flag of convenience, Copeland and Sting - together with Corsican guitarist Henri Padovani - started rehearsing and looking for gigs. Ever the businessman, Copeland took the name The Police figuring it would be good publicity, and the three started gigging round landmark punk venues like The Roxy, Marquee, Vortex and Nashville in London. Replacing Padovani with the virtuoso talents of Andy Summers the band also enrolled Stewart's elder brother Miles as manager, wowing him with a Sting song called 'Roxanne'. Within days Copeland Senior had them a record deal. But the hip London music press saw through The Police's punk camouflage and did little to disguise their contempt, and the band's early releases had no chart success. So The Police did the unthinkable - they went to America.

The early tours are the stuff of legend - bargain flights to the USA courtesy of Freddie Laker's pioneering Skytrain; driving their own van and humping their own equipment from gig to gig; and playing to miniscule audiences at the likes of CBGB's in New York and The Rat Club in Boston. Their tenacity paid off though as they slowly built a loyal following, got some all important air-play, and won over their audiences with a combination of new wave toughness and reggae rhythms.

They certainly made an odd trio: guitarist Summers had a career dating back to the mid-60s, the hyper- kinetic Copeland was a former prog-rocker, and Sting's background was in trad jazz and fusion. The sound the trio made was unique though, and Sting's pin-up looks did them no harm at all. The band returned to the UK to find the reissued 'Roxanne' single charting, and played a sell-out tour of mid-size venues. The momentum had started. The debut album 'Outlandos d'Amour' (Oct 78) delivered three sizeable hits with 'Roxanne', 'Can't Stand Losing You' and 'So Lonely' which in turn led to a headlining slot at the '79 Reading Festival which won the band some fine reviews, but it was with 'Reggatta de Blanc' (Oct 79) that the band stepped up a gear.

Read more

Tags

1
Radio & Podcasts

Sting: An English (Jazz-)Man in New York - Companion Mixtape

Read "Sting: An English (Jazz-)Man in New York - Companion Mixtape" reviewed by Ludovico Granvassu


More cuts from our exploration of the jazz side of Sting, featuring his own jazzier projects and renditions of his work by the likes of Kenny Barron, Regina Carter, Dominic Miller, Michela Lombardi, Andy Bey, Marc Copland and many more. Happy listening! Playlist Lucky Peterson “We'll Be Together" Lifetime (Verve) 0:00 Sting “Jeremiah Blues (Part 1)" Soul Cages (A&M) 3:30 Kenny Barron, Regina Carter “Fragile" Freefall (Verve) 8:18 Pierluigi Balducci Ensemble “La Belle Dame Sans Regrets" ...

1
Radio & Podcasts

Sting: An English (Jazz-)Man In New York - Part 2

Read "Sting: An English (Jazz-)Man In New York - Part 2" reviewed by Ludovico Granvassu


Although Sting is mostly known for his solo career and, before that, for fronting one of the most epic band of all times, The Police, his love for jazz has been a common thread throughout his career. His jazz sensibility became more prominent when he started his solo career with the album The Dream of the Blue Turtles and a band of young heavy weights from the New York jazz scene of the time, Branford Marsalis, Kenny Kirkland, Darryl Jones ...

2
Radio & Podcasts

Sting: An English (Jazz-)Man in New York - Part 1

Read "Sting: An English (Jazz-)Man in New York - Part 1" reviewed by Ludovico Granvassu


From his early years as a bassist in the trad Phoenix Jazzmen, the straight-ahead Newcastle Big Band, and the fusion quintet Last Exit, to his collaborations with idols like Gil Evans and Miles Davis, jazz has been a constant in Sting's artistic path. This week, we feature music from his jazzier projects as a leader or side-man, and jazz renditions of his compositions by jazz legends and up and coming masters. Happy listening! Playlist Ben Allison ...

11
Radio & Podcasts

The (Jazz) Police

Read "The (Jazz) Police" reviewed by Ludovico Granvassu


September 2019 will mark the 40th anniversary of “Message in a Bottle," an auspicious opportunity to look back at the seminal work of The Police, through a jazz lens. With both Sting and Andy Summers coming to The Police with jazz in their background and Stewart Copeland being a master of polyrhythmic drumming it's not a surprise that their compositions would sound very good in the hands of jazz players. These two hours will feature some ...

14
Live Review

Sting at the City Stadium in Macedonia

Read "Sting at the City Stadium in Macedonia" reviewed by Nenad Georgievski


Sting City Stadium Skopje, Macedonia June 2, 2019 It seems that singer Sting's concerts here in this part of the world border on the miraculous. Just a few days since he kicked out his new world tour in support of his new album My Songs he visited Skopje for a stadium concert. When scheduling a summer concert one would expect great summer weather in June and not a monsoon season with heavy rainfalls and thunders. ...

31
Live Review

Sting at Boris Trajkovski Sports Hall in Skopje, Macedonia

Read "Sting at Boris Trajkovski Sports Hall in Skopje, Macedonia" reviewed by Nenad Georgievski


Sting Boris Trajkovski Sports Hall Skopje, Macedonia October 15, 2017 The “Boris Trajkovski" sports hall in Skopje witnessed a show as great as any in his illustrious career from the legendary musician and songwriter. Nevertheless, the attentive, full-capacity crowd who turned out witnessed something special. The gig in Skopje was next to last in Sting's world tour which began back in February. There was a tension building in the air with a ...

Live Review

Sting a Mantova

Read "Sting a Mantova" reviewed by Luca Muchetti


Sting Piazza Sordello Mantova 28.07.2017 Se non lo vogliamo definire un ritorno alle radici, davvero poco ci manca. Sting e la sua band--in una Piazza Sordello di Mantova che si farà ricordare (anche) per lo splendido colpo d'occhio -ha regalato un concerto senza passi falsi e all'insegna dello spirito più originale che spinse il giovane Sumner a imbracciare il basso elettrico. L'assetto scelto per questa nuova uscita italiana, infatti, è squisitamente rock: Dominic Miller e ...

Read more articles
1

Performance / Tour

Craig Davis Trio's Creative, Warm And Interesting Performance At Birdland Theater Set For April 11, 2024

Craig Davis Trio's Creative, Warm And Interesting Performance At Birdland Theater Set For April 11, 2024

Source: Renée J. Govanucci

Pat Philips Presents Craig Davis Trio at Birdland on April 11, 2024 with special guest Darmon Meader Pittsburgh pianist Craig Davis pays tribute to fellow Steel City native and bebop pioneer Michael “Dodo” Marmarosa Craig Davis, along with his Trio, Ian Ashby on bass, and Chris Latona on drums, is on a mission to raise Michael “Dodo” Marmarosa’s profile in the jazz consciousness. Marmaros, who worked with major swing-era bandleaders such as Tommy Dorsey, Gene Krupa, and Artie Shaw, and ...

2

Music Industry

Genre-Busting Pianist Michael Kaeshammer Announces 15th Studio Album 'Turn It Up' Out March 17

Genre-Busting Pianist Michael Kaeshammer Announces 15th Studio Album 'Turn It Up' Out March 17

Source: Collabo PR

Michael Kaeshammer isn’t so much a pianist as a piano whisperer, a master musician and songwriter able to coax dazzling, kaleidoscopic sounds from his instrument in a way few can rival. That gift powers Kaeshammer’s upcoming 15th album, Turn It Up, due out March 17. The new single “Never Knew What Love Was,” which showcases Kaeshammer’s pure-pop style, was released last week at all streaming services and digital retailers (Listen Here). The song follows the release of the title track, ...

3

Music Industry

The Unique 'Everlasting Cool' Mystique Of The Elusive Kathy Ingraham

The Unique 'Everlasting Cool' Mystique Of The Elusive Kathy Ingraham

Source: Powderfinger Promotions

As a session singer in New York City, millions have heard her voice on TV commercials and movie themes. She prefers singing behind the glass fortress of a recording studio, the happy place for this very private person. Getting her to talk about herself or credits and accomplishments in the past is nearly impossible. When asked, she quotes Alice In Wonderland “It’s no use going back to yesterday because I was a different person then.” What we do know is ...

1

Recording

Vocalist Kathy Ingraham's Inspiring New Jazz Album, 'Everlasting Cool' Is Out Of This World

Vocalist Kathy Ingraham's Inspiring New Jazz Album, 'Everlasting Cool' Is Out Of This World

Source: Powderfinger Promotions

“Everlasting Cool features Kathy Ingraham in top form.” —Scott Yanow Out of this world jazz vocalist and composer Kathy Ingraham returns with the release of her third solo album, Everlasting Cool. Adding to the catalogue of her debut album Cool Night (2017) and follow up album Paper Doll (2020), which are comprised primarily of original works, she wanted to pay homage to the artists who have inspired her as a composer. Maintaining the style that is uniquely her own, Everlasting ...

1

Performance / Tour

Casting her musical net far and wide

Casting her musical net far and wide

Source: Ken Franckling's Jazz Notes

Singer Halie Loren covered the jazz and popular music waterfront—-on the waterfront—-in a Sunday, May 15, matinee concert at Selby Gardens' Historic Spanish Pojnt campus in Osprey FL. She took the afternoon's music in some surprising directions, putting all sorts of music in a jazz context, delivered with a clear voice and deep understanding of the lyrics. She has always looked beyond the stylistic boundaries of jazz and standards for interesting material, and found ways to put her own stamp ...

12

Book / Magazine

Mark Ruffin Celebrates 40th Anniversary In Radio Broadcasting With The September 1st Publication Of "Bebop Fairy Tales," His First Short Story Collection

Mark Ruffin Celebrates 40th Anniversary In Radio Broadcasting With The September 1st Publication Of "Bebop Fairy Tales," His First Short Story Collection

Source: Terri Hinte Publicity

Mark Ruffin , known coast-to-coast as the afternoon drivetime DJ for SiriusXM’s Real Jazz channel, celebrates his 40th anniversary in jazz radio in on September 1, 2020. Ruffin, who is also the program director for Real Jazz, began his first professional job in the business—at Chicago NPR affiliate WBEZ-FM—on September 1, 1980. In the time since, he has amassed an odyssey’s worth of jobs, accomplishments, relationships, and stories, both real and imagined. (Three of the latter will be published September ...

Career

Guide To Making Your Live Show More Interesting

Guide To Making Your Live Show More Interesting

Source: HypeBot

The shows that truly stick in our minds often transcend just great music, using stunning visuals or other dramatic elements to emphasize the emotional power of the performance. Here we look at how artists can take their show to the next level and give fans a truly unforgettable experience. Guest post by Evan Zwisler for Soundfly's Flypaper Great, memorable shows go so far beyond the music itself. Great performers will tap into what makes their music special, their sound and image unique, and they’ll ...

Trends

Is Podcasting's Bubble About To Burst Or Just Catching Its Breath?

Is Podcasting's Bubble About To Burst Or Just Catching Its Breath?

Source: HypeBot

Following its explosion in popularity, podcasting has established itself as a lead player in the audio renaissance. But can this platform continue to keep growing? Low barriers to entry have led to a crowded content field, leaving some in the industry concerned about its future. Guest post by Fred Jacobs of Jacobs Media Now don't get me wrong. I'm a dyed-in-the-wool believer that podcasting is a “thing,” is a platform that is steadily growing, is an important piece of the ...

Music Industry

Music Industry's Nonsense 'Myth Busting' About EU's Censorship Machines Essentially Just Saying 'Nuh-uh' Repeatedly

Music Industry's Nonsense 'Myth Busting' About EU's Censorship Machines Essentially Just Saying 'Nuh-uh' Repeatedly

Source: HypeBot

ALTERNATIVE VIEW: In this op-ed, Mike Masnick busts the myth busting of major EU publishers who were attempting to counteract criticism of the EU's Copyright Directive's Article 11 “link tax", and why he believes its effects would be so detrimental. Op-ed by Mike Masnick of Techdirt A few weeks back we busted the bogus myth busting by the big EU publishers who were trying to fight back against people explaining why the proposed EU Copyright Directive's Article 11 “link tax" ...

Photos

Concerts

May 9 Thu
Sting
Mahaffey Theater
St. Petersburg, FL
May 9 Thu
Sting
Mahaffey Theater
Saint Petersburg, FL
May 10 Fri
Sting
Mahaffey Theater
St. Petersburg, FL
Jun 4 Tue
Jun 9 Sun
Jun 14 Fri
Jun 16 Sun
Jun 18 Tue

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Duets

A&M Records
2021

buy

57th & 9th

A&M Records
2016

buy

If on a Winter’s...

Deutsche Grammophon
2010

buy

If on a Winter's...

Deutsche Grammophon
2009

buy

Videos

Similar

Paul McCartney
bass, electric
Steely Dan
band / ensemble / orchestra
Eric Clapton
guitar, electric
Bruce Hornsby
piano and vocals
Paul Simon
composer / conductor

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.