For the 22nd annual Heart 'n Soul of Jazz event (formerly Jazz 'n January), the Arts Council of Moore County presents the Tierney Sutton Band on Saturday, Feb. 10, at 8 p.m. at the Carolina Hotel in Pinehurst Resort.

In a world of overnight sensations, jazz vocalist Tierney Sutton's success has come from the road less traveled. A decision in the mid-1990s to move to Southern California from her New England home resulted in a decade-long collaboration with her current band mates.

A Wisconsin-born choir girl, unexposed to jazz until college, Sutton eventually found the best of the best -- collaborators with their own impressive jazz pedigrees, from Natalie Cole to Diana Krall, from Ray Charles to Randy Brecker -- pianist Christian Jacob, bassist Kevin Axt, and drummer Ray Brinker.

Ten years and six critically acclaimed CDs later, Sutton and her band demonstrate what collective consultation and dedicated teamwork can achieve. Reviewers repeatedly say that audiences experience a rare and powerful harmony, achieved by humble performers at the top of their game.

A versatile studio singer as well as premier entertainer, Sutton's voice was recently featured on the Lions Gate hit film, "The Cooler," starring William H. Macy and Alec Baldwin. She can also be heard in Paramount's "Twisted," starring Samuel L. Jackson, Andy Garcia, and Ashley Judd.

Sutton's unique voice is also regularly featured in commercials representing such brands as BMW, Coca Cola, and Dodge.

Educated at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Sutton became a semi-finalist in the Thelonious Monk Jazz Vocal Competition in 1998. Her first solo CD, "Introducing Tierney Sutton," was released to rave reviews and nominated for a 1999 Indie Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album.

Later that year, Sutton signed with the Telarc Jazz label. "On Unsung Heroes," released in 2000, she took popular jazz standards that are usually performed instrumentally (such as Joe Henderson's "Recordame," Clifford Brown's "Joy Spring," and Dizzy Gillespie's "Con Alma") and recorded them with vocals. Soon she became one of the critics' most talked-about jazz musicians.

"Something Cool," released in 2002, quickly rose to No. 1 on the jazz charts and continues to garner extensive airplay across the U.S. and Europe. This adventurous recording includes a swinging rendition of "Route 66," Lerner and Loewe's "Wouldn't It Be Loverly," Willie Nelson's "Crazy," and a fresh arrangement of "Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead," one of Sutton's concert favorites.

In March 2004, with the release of "Dancing in the Dark," which debuted in the Billboard Jazz top ten and remained on the charts for over 15 weeks, Sutton completed one of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful runs in the history of New York's legendary Oak Room. The packed houses at the Oak Room and the rave reviews she received eventually led to her 2005 Carnegie Hall debut with the New York Pops.

In March 2005, Sutton and her band performed in front of a select audience of friends and fans at Birdland in New York City. "I'm With the Band" is Sutton's first live recording and was nominated for a 2005 Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal CD. The set list on "I'm With the Band" is a Tierney Sutton fan's dream-come-true, featuring never before recorded material from throughout her career.

To round out this special Valentine's weekend for Heart 'n Soul of Jazz, vocalist and pianist Freddy Cole will perform on Friday, Feb. 9, at 8 p.m. at the Carolina Hotel.

Tickets for both concerts are on sale and can be purchased by calling the Pinehurst Resort Services desk at 910-235-8415. The $65 ticket (or $110 for both nights) includes the concert, a meet-the-artists dessert reception, and a chance for a fabulous door prize.

Pinehurst Resort is offering a pre-concert dinner in the Carolina Dining Room each night for $30 (tax and gratuity included), and a special $179 per person per night rate, which includes a concert ticket, reception, accommodations, breakfast, dinner and champagne delivered to your room in celebration of Valentine's Day.

The major sponsors of Heart 'n Soul of Jazz are Pinehurst Resort, Progress Energy, and American Airlines. Sponsors of the meet-the-artists reception are BB&T and Wachovia, and Lyne's Furniture Gallery will provide a $1,000 shopping spree as a door prize for an audience member.