★★★★★ 5/5 Stars
🎺 Genre: Traditional Jazz • Jazz Instrumental • Bebop
Artist: Michael B. Sutton
Single: Heavenly Trumpet
Featured Legacy Artist: Burnett Sutton (“Little Dizz”) – Download Your Copy: The Sound of L.A.
What if one of the greatest jazz talents you’ve never heard of was once compared to Dizzy Gillespie?
According to legendary jazz saxophonist John Handy, that musician was Burnett Sutton.
This Father’s Day, Motown producer, songwriter, and recording artist Michael B. Sutton is honoring his father through a heartfelt instrumental release titled Heavenly Trumpet—a tribute that celebrates not only a father’s love and influence but also a remarkable jazz legacy that deserves to be remembered.
Burnett Sutton was a remarkable jazz trumpeter whose talent earned praise from legendary saxophonist John Handy and connections to Dizzy Gillespie. Today, his son Michael B. Sutton honors that legacy through Heavenly Trumpet.
For Michael, the project is deeply personal.
Download Your Copy: The Sound of L.A.
For jazz fans, it offers a fascinating glimpse into a little-known chapter of bebop history.
The Jazz Musician Known as “Little Dizz”
During the golden era of jazz, Oakland’s Seventh Street corridor was alive with clubs, jam sessions, and extraordinary musicians.
Among them was a young trumpet player named Burnett Sutton.
In an interview published in Jazz Perspectives, acclaimed jazz saxophonist John Handy recalled those early days and offered a remarkable assessment of Sutton’s talent.
“There were bars up and down Seventh Street and businesses of different kinds. I went to a couple of places, the names of which I never knew then and don’t know now, where we had impromptu jam sessions. There were some guys who had gone to McClymonds High School, where I went, who could really play.
One was Burnett Sutton, a trumpet player who was about 22 years old when I was 17 or so, and Skippy Warren, who was a bass player.
When Dizzy Gillespie came to town, Burnett Sutton—who became known as ‘Little Dizz’—would hang out with him. He was an extraordinary trumpet player around Miles Davis’s age and played on that level at that age.”
Download Your Copy: The Sound of L.A.
For Michael B. Sutton, hearing those words from a respected jazz legend was both emotional and validating.
To have his father’s talent recognized by someone of John Handy’s stature confirms what family, friends, and fellow musicians had known for decades: Burnett Sutton was a remarkable artist.
A Friendship with Dizzy Gillespie
One of the most fascinating details in Handy’s recollection is Burnett Sutton’s connection to Dizzy Gillespie.
As one of the architects of bebop, Gillespie helped revolutionize modern jazz and inspired generations of musicians worldwide.
According to Handy, Burnett spent time with Gillespie whenever the legendary trumpeter came to town, earning the nickname “Little Dizz.”
The nickname itself speaks volumes.
It reflects both Burnett’s trumpet abilities and the respect he earned among fellow musicians during one of the most influential periods in jazz history.
For Michael, these stories represent more than historical facts.
They are treasured memories that help preserve his father’s legacy.
The Inspiration Behind “Heavenly Trumpet”
Music has always been a bridge between generations.
For Michael B. Sutton, Heavenly Trumpet serves as a musical conversation with his father.
The instrumental was created as a Father’s Day tribute and reflects the classic jazz traditions that Burnett Sutton loved and embodied throughout his career.
Rather than chasing contemporary trends, the song embraces the elegance, emotion, and musicianship that defined jazz during the 1940s and 1950s.
When asked what he hopes listeners experience while hearing the track, Michael’s answer is simple.
“I want them to close their eyes and think back to the days of the 40s and 50s. Good jazz.”
That nostalgic vision is woven throughout every note of Heavenly Trumpet.
The song feels less like a modern release and more like a heartfelt tribute to an era when musicians played from the soul.
The Story That Stayed With Him
Although Michael grew up hearing stories about his father’s musical accomplishments, there was one account that remained especially meaningful.
A close friend attended a jazz concert at the Oakland Auditorium years ago and later called Michael with excitement.
According to his friend, an unknown trumpet player stepped onto the stage during a jam session and completely captivated the audience.
The crowd erupted into applause.
People stood to their feet.
The performance left everyone talking.
Only afterward did organizers reveal the musician’s identity.
It was Burnett Sutton.
For Michael, hearing stories like these offered glimpses into the musician his father truly was.
“I wish I had been there,” he recalls.
Pump It Up Magazine Review
★★★★★ 5/5 Stars
Heavenly Trumpet succeeds because it comes from a genuine place.
This is not simply another instrumental release.
It is a son’s tribute to a father.
From the opening notes, the song captures the warmth and elegance associated with classic jazz. The trumpet melodies evoke memories of late-night jam sessions, intimate jazz clubs, and a period when music was driven by passion rather than algorithms.
The emotional story behind the recording gives it even greater impact.
Knowing that the song honors a musician whom John Handy compared to Miles Davis and who was affectionately known as “Little Dizz” adds depth and significance to every note.
The result is a moving musical tribute that feels both timeless and deeply personal.
Exclusive Interview with Michael B. Sutton
Pump It Up Magazine:
Why did you decide to release Heavenly Trumpet for Father’s Day?
Michael B. Sutton:
I wanted to honor my dad. He was an incredible trumpet player, and Father’s Day felt like the perfect time to celebrate his legacy through music.
Pump It Up Magazine:
How did it feel reading John Handy’s comments about your father?
Michael B. Sutton:
It was amazing. To hear someone like John Handy say my dad played at the level of Dizzy Gillespie when he was young—that’s incredible. It tells you how talented he really was.
Pump It Up Magazine:
What does the nickname “Little Dizz” mean to you?
Michael B. Sutton:
It reflects my father’s friendship with Dizzy Gillespie and the respect he earned as a trumpet player. That’s a special part of his story.
Pump It Up Magazine:
What do you want listeners to feel when they hear Heavenly Trumpet?
Michael B. Sutton:
I want them to close their eyes and go back to the 1940s and 1950s. I want them to feel the beauty of classic jazz and appreciate the musicians who helped create it.
Pump It Up Magazine:
What would you like people to remember about Burnett Sutton?
Michael B. Sutton:
That he loved music, loved people, and left a legacy worth remembering.
Final Thoughts
Father’s Day is about honoring those who helped shape our lives.
Through Heavenly Trumpet, Michael B. Sutton has done exactly that.
He has honored his dad, Burnett Sutton—a gifted jazz trumpeter remembered by John Handy as an extraordinary talent, celebrated by friends as a remarkable performer, and affectionately known as “Little Dizz” because of his friendship with Dizzy Gillespie.
Most importantly, he has ensured that his father’s story will continue to inspire future generations.
Because great musicians never truly disappear.
Their music lives on.
Their influence lives on.
And sometimes, their legacy can still be heard in the sound of a heavenly trumpet.
Listen, Download & Celebrate the Legacy
Experience the timeless sound of Heavenly Trumpet, Michael B. Sutton’s heartfelt Father’s Day tribute to his dad, legendary jazz trumpeter Burnett Sutton, affectionately known as “Little Dizz.”
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Own this beautiful tribute and support independent music.
👉 Available now at The Sound of L.A.
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