Champian Fulton & Klas Lindquist AT HOME

May 14, 2025

CHAMPIAN FULTON & KLAS LINDQUIST

AT HOME

Turtle Bay Records

Champian Fulton, piano/vocals; Klas Lindquist, clarinet/alto saxophone.

This is an album that was recorded comfortably in the intimate living room of the Turtle Bay Records founder, Scott Asen’s home. It was a repeat of a dinner party the two had attended, where they had provided their exceptional music for guests. Thus, the album title, “At Home.”

The pianist and vocalist joined forces with Grammy-winning engineer, Michael Perez-Cisneros, and Swedish reed virtuoso, Klas Lindquist to recreate that evening of inspired music. This duo has captured ten songs from our Great American Songbook to entertain us. They added one song from a more contemporary composer, Blossom Dearie, called “I Was Looking For You” and an original song by Fulton and Lindquist. They open with a Great American Songbook favorite, “The Very Thought of You.”

Champian Fulton’s voice floats like a cloud above her piano chords. The clarinet of Klas Lindquist blows expressively and improvises wildly in between her phrasing. During the Lindquist solo, I am swept up by his silky-smooth horn improvisation.

They follow this with a song they collaborated on called, “Don’t Do That To Me.” It is definitely a blues composition. Lindquist sets his clarinet to the side and offers us an alto saxophone solo.

A louis Armstrong tune they included in this project is called “Someday you’ll Be Sorry.” The duo swings on this song, with Champian competently interpreting the lyrics.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FirVXeMP84

They reach back to the 1928’s to include an Earl Hines tune called “My Monday Date.” It starts out as a ballad but soon Fulton and Lindquist swing it. The clarinet dances over the catchy changes and brings back the jazz of the 1930s. The duo complement each other. Champian Fulton’s solo piano is stellar. She is a satisfying rhythm section all by herself.

I also enjoyed their slow take on “Bésame Mucho” with Klas Lindquist’s alto sax taking center stage.

This duo offers a lesson in how to captivate the listener. Both are master musicians, who combine their talents in a most entertaining and dynamic way.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil