The along with the distinctive L.A. singer Tierney Sutton on June 4 and 5 at the UW Memorial Union. Sutton plays a ticketed concert at the Wisconsin Union Theater at 8 p.m. on June 5, while Catalano and the local musicians perform free of charge outside on the Terrace from 4:30 to 11:30 p.m on. Friday and 2:30 p.m. to midnight on Saturday.
Raised in Milwaukee, Sutton has risen to the top of the heap among contemporary jazz vocalists. She's recorded eight albums and earned three Grammy nominations on the strength of her supple voice, rhythmic subtlety and interpretive skills. Sutton finds new wrinkles in standards like "Route 66," "The Best Is Yet to Come" and "Fly Me to the Moon," even as she echoes forbears like Ella Fitzgerald.
Tenor saxophonist Frank Catalano got his first recording contract at age 18 and has since made a mark on the Billboard jazz charts with his albums Mighty Burner and Bang! He plays the straight-ahead style with boundless energy, as if he just can't wait for the next chord change. He's so aggressive on up-tempo songs that you're taken off guard by his tenderness on ballads.
The festival's local acts include the Caravan Gypsy Swing Ensemble; vocalist Gerri DiMaggio with guest singers Jeannie Woodall and Sally DeBroux; Tony Castaneda's Latin Jazz Sextet; the High School Jazz All-Stars; vocalist Francesca Johnson; the Madison Jazz Orchestra; and Madisalsa.
The complete 2010 Isthmus Jazz Festival schedule follows.
Friday, June 4
4:30-5:30 p.m.:
8-9:30 p.m.: Tony Castaneda Latin Jazz Sextet
Saturday, June 5
1:30-2:30 p.m.: High School Jazz All-Stars
3-4 p.m.:
6-7:30 p.m.: , headliner at Wisconsin Union Theater
10 p.m-close: online.