Champian Fulton & Cory Weeds Dream a Little Dream

Champian Fulton & Cory Weeds
Dream a Little Dream
Cellar Live

In her brief liner notes to this live duo recording with alto saxophonist Cory Weeds, pianist and vocalist Champian Fulton observes that a duo is unique. It allows more freedom to play and interact with the other. "As a pianist, a duo really is one of my favourite formats. I love the looseness of it – being able to follow or lead when I want, to hear the bare bones of the song as expressed by a linear instrument, with no drums or bass to muddy the waters. It takes a special kind of horn player to be able to feel comfortable in that setting because you're so exposed." Weeds observes that they "recorded this in a house that has been the scene of many wonderful concerts over the past eight years. It is owned by two dear friends of mine, Will and Norah Johnston." The home is a comfortable setting for an intimate performance allowing, "Two good friends simply making music together: that's what it's all about."

And the friends certainly made good music today. Fulton's vocals range from hopeful to bluesy as she goes from the title track to "Fly Me to The Moon," in a rendition that is a bit more reflective than the iconic Sinatra recording. In addition to her wonderful vocal, there are some marvelous solos from both here. Fulton composed the bouncy instrumental "Lullaby For Art," which showcases both players. Another instrumental showcase for the two is the swinging rendition of "Once I Had a Secret Love." Here Weeds bop-inflected sax is accompanied by Fulton's adept use of chords.

The mix of their excellent musicianship and improvisations, and Fulton's warm, nuanced singing lead to sublime interpretations of "Darn That Dream," and "I'd Give a Dollar For a Dime." The album closes with the relaxed swing of "Save Your Love For Me," with Weeds alto lead punctuated by Fulton's piano chords. Fulton and Weeds were two good friends making some marvelous music that February 2019 night at Will and Norah's Vancouver, BC home when this was recorded. The result is this gem of a recording.

I purchased this. Here is Champian Fulton backed by a quartet including Corey Weeds performing "If I Had You."

 

Champian Fulton Swinging Date With the Sultans of Swing

Born in Norman, Oklahoma in 1985, Champian Fulton was influenced by her father, a renown jazz trumpeter. Learning piano as a youth, she has playing and singing jazz since she was little and has been devoted to jazz piano and vocals since 1998. In 2006 she met David Berger, leader of the Sultans of Swing at the New York club, Birdland, where she had a regular gig and after each heard the other, and she eventually joined Berger’s band. Berger, a conductor and arranger for Jazz at Lincoln Center, is well-respected authority on the music of Duke Ellington and the swing era (having transcribed 700 or so classic works including 500 from Ellington and Strayhorn) and the Sultans of Swing is a marvelous big band that lives up to its name.


Such Sweet Thunder has just issued their collaboration, Champian, a marvelous journey through the American Songbook, on some classic standards such as I Can’t Give You Anything But Love, Get Out of Town, He Ain’t Got Rhythm, Too Close For Comfort, and Just One of Those Things, along with such intriguing choices as The Gypsy (a number Dinah Washington recorded) Ain’t Nobody Here But Us Chickens (a classic associated with Louis Jordan), and Lil Green’s Romance in the Dark. She projects the lyrics in a lively, natural fashion perhaps suggesting the late Etta Jones with a touch of Ella thrown in. Her performances benefit from the superb Sultans of Swing, and Berger’s arrangements, with their Ellingtonian accents (particularly evident on the performances of The Gypsy and Romance In the Dark). Two of the performances feature her own piano, including You Turned the Tables on Me, with trio backing, and the solo, Never-The-Less.


In summary, this is a marvelous debut by Champian Fulton with David Berger & the Sultans of Swing. Champian is a singer from whom we undoubtedly shall hear more from in the future. This is available from cdbaby.com as well as from the Sultans of Swing website, www.sultansofswing.com.

This review originally appeared in the January 2008 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 300) and my review copy was provided by the publication. Champian's present website is www.champian.net from which this and her more recent recordings are available.