by Ashley Laurent

Suzanne Pittson is an accomplished jazz vocalist that lives in New York. She started learning the piano at age 8. Pittson earned a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Arts in Music as a classical pianist before getting into jazz voice. She has been acknowledged for her musicianship and improvisational skills. Pittson uses her voice as an instrument when improvising and playing with melodies.

What inspired you to get into jazz?

I was surrounded by jazz growing up. My aunt and uncle were jazz musicians, and many of my parent’s friends were either jazz musicians or jazz fans. My mother, who was a singer in her youth, played the jazz radio station in our home from morning until night and I was well acquainted with the individual sounds of many of the famous musicians and vocalists. I also had the opportunity to accompany my parents to jazz clubs and festivals. I began playing piano when I was 8 and completed bachelor’s and master’s degrees in classical piano at San Francisco State University. While in college, I injured my right hand from over practicing, and though I continued playing and finished the degrees, I felt that I couldn’t physically sustain a career as a concert pianist. It was at this point that I naturally began to sing jazz and using my years of piano training, I set out to develop myself as an improvising jazz singer — that is, to be able to sing jazz lines on the level of a great instrumentalist. I spent a lot of time studying the improvised solos by trumpet players and saxophonists and gradually developed my own sound. I have always found that the study of jazz enables me to continue growing and exploring new ideas which I find exciting. But it also has helped me to grow as a human being. When taking a jazz improvised solo, which often may go in a direction we didn’t anticipate, we allow ourselves to be vulnerable in front of an audience and then demonstrate how to end victoriously. So, from jazz, I have learned how to overcome adversity. This to me is the greatness of jazz.

If you had to describe jazz in one word, what would it be and why?

Honesty. The jazz ensemble is a place where all players can be honest and authentic while respecting the other musicians’ individuality. It’s a place where there is no judgment, either for yourself or others. It’s important to not judge yourself or the other players when improvising. Instead, we try to support one another so that each musician can express themselves fully. In this way, the jazz ensemble is a model of democracy and mutual respect.

How would you describe the perfect setting to play jazz?

The perfect setting is anywhere that musicians can play together and feel connected to the audience. Since the establishment of International Jazz Day in 2011, Jazz is beginning to be viewed as global music, a music that can bring the people of the world together. So, more and more people are realizing the inclusiveness of jazz, and how the honesty, authenticity, and vulnerability that I mentioned above can touch the hearts of people worldwide.

If you had to pick one jazz style, what would it be and why?

That’s difficult. I like any jazz that is honest and aspires to a high level. I consider myself more of a straight-ahead jazz vocalist, though my influences are very broad. Some of my chief influences are vocalists Carmen McRae and Sarah Vaughan, trumpeters Freddie Hubbard and Miles Davis, saxophonists Michael Brecker, John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, and Charlie Parker, and pianists Herbie Hancock and Bill Evans. But I’m most authentic when I’m improvising on a jazz standard tune, and that is what I love to do most of all.

Do you have a favorite song or recommendation? What makes it stand out to you?

That is extremely difficult as I have a very large repertoire of songs that I have performed over the years. Part of the jazz musician’s training is to become well-versed in the jazz standards so that musicians worldwide can play together, often without reading music. But there are songs that I do keep coming back to time and again. One of those songs is by Kurt Weill (music) and Ira Gershwin (lyrics) that is called “My Ship,” from a musical entitled “Lady in the Dark.” I recorded it on my first CD, and I never get tired of singing it. It has a gorgeous melody, very vivid lyrics, and a fantastic set of chord changes. The final line is “I do not care if that day arrives, that dream need never be, If the ship I sing, doesn’t also bring, my own true love to me.” I learned this tune from listening to trumpeter Miles Davis. His recording is possibly one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever heard in my life!!