Ralph
Sutton on Riverwalk L to R: Jim Cullum David Holt, Ralph Sutton, Mike Pittsley, Ron Hockett, John Sheridan, Don Mopsick, Mike Waskeiwicz, Howard Elkins. Photo: Dan Warner |
| Ralph
Sutton on Riverwalk L to R: Jim Cullum David Holt, Ralph Sutton, Mike Pittsley, Ron Hockett, John Sheridan, Don Mopsick, Mike Waskeiwicz, Howard Elkins. Photo: Dan Warner |
On Wednesday, March 8, 2000, Ralph
Sutton, a living legend of jazz piano, joined Jim and the band at the Landing for two
live hour-long recording sessions: Long Way From St. Louis: The Story of Jazz Pianist
Ralph Sutton, and The Famous Door and Jimmy Ryan's: Memories of 52nd St.
Some of the highlights: Ralph and
the band recorded Ain't Misbehavin,' Honeysuckle Rose, and other classic Fats
Waller numbers. Ralph performed the Willie "the Lion" Smith favorite, Morning
Air. John Sheridan and Ralph gave a stirring two-piano rendition of George Gershwin's
Liza, while Ralph and John also recorded a duo version of Fine and Dandy
with bassist Don Mopsick and new JCJB drummer Mike
Waskiewicz.
Right: Ralph and David Holt go over the script in rehearsal. Photo: Dan Warner
Ralph Sutton is among the last of the
great two-handed piano players. His career dates back to the early 40s, when he began
playing with Jack Teagarden while still a college student. He later worked in a trio with
Albert Nicholas, and was the intermission pianist at Eddie Condon's for eight years. He
worked with Bob Scobey for a time, then was featured in 1963 at the first Dick Gibson Jazz
Party. That would lead five years later to the formation of the World's Greatest Jazzband,
of which he was a founding member. He is still very active on the jazz party and festival
scene today.
Left: Jim Shacter, author of Loose Shoes, a biography of
Ralph Sutton. Photo: Dan Warner.
