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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZSUTTON, Ralph(b 4 Nov. '22, Hamburg MO; d 30 Dec. 2001, Evergreen CO) Pianist in NYC stride style, inspired by Fats Waller and James P. Johnson, playing it very well indeed: the kind of musician who made life-long fans. He began in St Louis mid-'30s; recorded solos for Columbia and Brunswick and worked with Jack Teagarden's band before and after US Army service; to NYC late '40s and was well known playing intermissions at Eddie Condon's. To West Coast, solo album Mr Piano Man on Down Home '55, replaced Earl Hines at San Francisco's Hangover Club while Hines toured '57; played at jazz festivals etc; to Aspen '64, worked in a supper club; played from '65 in Denver with the Ten Giants of Jazz, soon called World's Greatest Jazz Band, on many albums with them; also The Compleat Bud Freeman, own LPs: Bix Beiderbecke Suite and Piano Portraits '50 on Commodore, And The All-Stars '54 (from the Hangover) on Jazz Archives, solos Off The Cuff '76 on Audiophile, Quartet '77 on Storyville USA, Piano Solos on Sackville and Piano Summit on 77 c'77, the latter made in England with others including Brian Lemon. Also Live '79 on Flyright UK, others with Jess Stacy on Ace of Hearts, Ruby Braff on Blue Angel Jazz Club, Dick Hyman on Concord, Stride Piano Summit on Milestone with Hyman and others; The Last Of The Whorehouse Piano Players on Chiaroscuro with Jay McShann; many more on Chazz Jazz, Upright, Solo Art (see Jazzology) etc. Live At Sunnie's Rendezvous '69 finally on a Storyville CD '97 had Al Hall and Cliff Leeman, the trio spreading joy for a noisy audience. Trio Sunday Session '92 on Sackville was made live with a Bosendorfer piano in Switzerland with Milt Hinton and Butch Miles, all obviously enjoying themselves. Other Sackville CDs: At Cafe Des Copains compiles tracks '83-7 and More '88-9; Easy Street '91 with Bob and Len Barnard, Partners In Crime same year adding Hinton. Sutton also did Vol. 30 in Concord's Maybeck solo series. |