CHAMPION FULTON

HOUSE PARTY

Turtle Bay Records

Champian Fulton, piano/vocals; Hide Tanaka, bass; Fukushi Tainaka, drums; Klas Lindquist, alto saxophone; Cory Weeds, tenor saxophone.

One thing I always expect from Champian Fulton is her swinging, in-the-pocket piano playing backed up by her storytelling approach to songs we know and love.  This album opens with “The One I Love Belongs to Somebody Else.”  Their arrangement comes out swinging like a boxing champion.  Fulton’s sidemen know her well. They lock into her groove tighter than the bolt on a Brink’s truck.

This is followed by the old standard, “I Cried For You” played at the speed of lightening. Fulton begins rubato, but soon kicks the tempo in like a roadrunner.  I marvel at how Champian Fulton can play that fast and that accurately while singing. Her solo piano improvisation is even more impressive! Then comes Hide Tanaka’s bass solo, and it’s stunning.  He pulls out his bow for this solo, wiggling it seductively across the strings. Fulton and the band trade fours with drummer Fukushi Tainaka, who pulls no punches when he slaps his mastery into space. This trio number is awesome and shows the power of Champian Fulton’s rhythm section.

This Fulton ensemble rubs their joy off on the live “House Party” audience, as well as this listener.  On the Hoagy Carmichael & Parish classic, “Stardust” begins with just Fulton’s warm, melodic voice and Klas Lindquist’s alto saxophone. They beautifully compliment each other.

Champian is the daughter of trumpeter, flugelhornist and educator Stephen Fulton. At six months old, family friend Clark Terry held little Champian Fulton in his arms. The influence of jazz and music surrounded that little girl her whole life. At age eight, she and some childhood friends formed a band called ‘The Little Jazz Quintet.’  All the participants were under the age of twelve.

Now, three decades later, this is Champian Fulton’s 20^th album release, recorded in March of 2025 at a private evening event of producer Scot Asen. The “House Party” music captures the spontaneity and warmth of an evening spent entertaining friends. It also showcases the amazing talents of each musician and the beauty of musical friends who are comfortable playing together.  Sparkling in the spotlight is Champian Fulton, all grown up, polished, and prepared to blow your mind with her talent and excellence.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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