When I’m 64 

It has been 20 years since I purchased my little house in Sutton and set up shop as ‘Pianist For Hire’. Almost 2,500 gigs later, I’m struck by how lucky I have been to have played extended runs at various venues in Sutton, thanks to owners’ commitment to live music. 

Playing at L’International

In 2006, I was playing the piano alone after a show at Sutton’s Salle Alec & Gérard Pelletier when I realized I wasn’t actually alone. Lise and Michel Desjardins were sitting at the back, listening. They asked me if I wanted to start jazz evenings at their restaurant, L’International. Ten months later, weekends at L’Inter were selling out. It was a wild ride with local musicians and various musician friends from away joining me. In retrospect, probably the craziest 4-year period of my life. 

Then at the Mocador

The Mocador was a fixture on Main Street. The owner, Ron Gilker, had been sailing the world until he dropped anchor in Sutton. And then he stayed for the next 45 years. I had played there a few times, when in 2011 he asked me to play each week on Thursdays. It was a fun year-long run. I got to play what I wanted – as long as it included Tom Wait’s “Jersey Girl” every night at his request! 

At the Pleasant Hotel

As part of the Sutton Jazz Festival in 2016, I performed a series of duos with singers at the Pleasant Hotel. Michel and Bertin were the fantastic and dynamic owners. Out of this came three and a half years of playing regularly with Almut Ellinghaus and Stanley Lake. Stan and I wrote a ton of tunes for Almut, culminating in our first CD Is this the song?. Those summertime Saturday evening gigs on the terrace were truly magical. 

At the Brouërie

In 2016, the Auberge Sutton Brouërie hired us to do a month of Friday evenings during the Sutton Jazz Festival. Eight years later, we’re still playing there, thanks to Élise and crew. This summer, it’s every Sunday with the Homebrew Dixieland and then year-round via Sutton Jazz. Élise’s sustained support for local musicians is a godsend. 

At Mollies

So, now in 2024, I find myself once again installed for a summer series (with guest musicians) at Mollie’s. The owner, Molly (go figure), like other Sutton proprietors, is crazy, that’s a given. She’s also a creative person who loves music, so naturally I adore her, and can’t thank her enough for this opportunity, currently in its third season. 

This edition of Le Tour comes out on my 64^th birthday. I still seem to be needed, and am still being fed, which answers the question in the Beatles’ famous song. So I want to thank everyone, musicians and civilians alike, who have welcomed me and made, and continue to make Sutton, Sutton. 

Michael Gordon Hynes