The Susan Sutton Trio featuring guest guitarist Randy Vincent will perform at Gualala Arts in the Elaine Jacob Foyer on Sunday, March 19, beginning at 4:00 p.m. Rounding out the trio will be Joel Kruzic on acoustic bass and guitar. This performance will be the first event of the 2023 Whale & Jazz Festival Series. Tickets are $20 ($5 more the day of) and are available at Gualala Arts, the Dolphin Gallery, and EventBrite.com.

According to Festival Music Coordinator Fred Adler “I find Susan’s approach to the music compelling. She is a prolific composer of often profound originals of varying moods and styles and a unique interpreter of gorgeous songbook standards. Her pianistic approach gives the standards new life, while simultaneously sticking closely to the original song’s lyricism and beautiful melody. Her performance personality is warm and gracious.”

According to Susan, ”In such a remarkable setting as the Gualala Arts Center, I am very pleased to offer two sets of my original music mixed with additional music ranging from “Autumn in New York”, “Moonlight in Vermont”, and film music. My performance will include music from the film “Agatha” which starred Dustin Hoffman, plus a vocal rendition of my original song, composed when I was 15, “Stopping By Woods” from the beloved Robert Frost poem.” Adler adds, “The top-rated and impeccable Bay-area guitarist Randy Vincent and the always sensitive acoustic bass and guitar of Joel Kruzic will allow Susan’s piano interpretations to soar. I believe Susan’s performance on the Art Center’s Yamaha grand piano will be especially memorable. Concert highlights will include piano solos, piano and guitar duets influenced by the historic Bill Evans/Jim Hall collaborations, and Susan’s original compositions performed in various instrumental configurations.

New York-born composer/pianist/vocalist Susan Sutton has performed professionally with her trios, recording eight albums. Her passion for music began at age of five, with classical training in piano and cello. She holds a degree in Music Composition and Performance from Dominican University and studied jazz piano and composition with Bryce Rohde of the Australian Jazz Quintet, and jazz piano with George Cables. Her original works include a series of contemporary modern chamber pieces as well as ten published volumes of jazz songs. She is inspired by influences from Thelonious Monk, Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock to Erik Satie, George Gershwin and World Beat.

Guitarist Randy Vincent has lived in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1980, dividing his time between performing and teaching. Vincent’s students include Julian Lage, the Santa Rosa-prodigy who appeared on the 2000 Grammy Awards show at age 11. Lage has since toured worldwide with the revered Gary Burton Quartet, and is featured with Burton on his most recent two recordings. Vincent has performed or recorded with such jazz luminaries as Dizzy Gillespie, Joe Henderson, Bobby Hutcherson, Billy Childs and The Turtle Island String Quartet.

Sonoma county’s Joel Kruzic grew up in a musical household, and began playing the guitar at eight. Years later, he attended the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York City. Kruzic returned to the Bay Area where his distinctive talent on both guitar and acoustic bass are highly regarded.

Advance tickets are $20 ($5 more the day of) and are available at Gualala Arts, the Dolphin Gallery, and EventBrite.com. Check back for more information.