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Curtis Fuller

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For the American football player, see Curtis Fuller (American football).
For the American broadcaster, see Courtis Fuller.
Curtis Fuller
Background information
Birth nameCurtis DuBois Fuller
Born(1932-12-15)December 15, 1932
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
DiedMay 8, 2021(2021-05-08) (aged 88)[1]
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.[1]
GenresJazz, hard bop, soul jazz
Occupation(s)Musician, composer, educator
InstrumentTrombone
Years active1953–2021
LabelsBlue Note, Prestige, Savoy, Impulse!, Epic, Atlantic

Curtis DuBois Fuller (December 15, 1932 – May 8, 2021)[1] was an American jazz trombonist. He was a member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers and contributed to many classic jazz recordings.[2]

Early life

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Fuller was born in Detroit on December 15, 1932. Throughout his life, his birthdate was reported differently because he had added two years to his age at 17, in part to gain work. His father had emigrated from Jamaica and worked in a Ford factory, but died from tuberculosis before his son was born. His mother, who had moved north from Atlanta, died when Curtis was nine. He spent several years in an orphanage run by Jesuits.[1] Fuller developed a passion for jazz after one of the nuns took him to see Illinois Jacquet and his band, with J. J. Johnson on trombone.[3]

Fuller attended a public school in his hometown, along with Paul Chambers, Donald Byrd, Tommy Flanagan, Thad Jones, and Milt Jackson.[4] After attempting the violin, and with the saxophone (his next choice) being unavailable, he took up the trombone when he was 16.[5] He studied under Johnson and Elmer James.[4]

Career

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Fuller joined the U.S. Army in 1953 to fight in the Korean War. He served until 1955, and played in an army band with Chambers and brothers Cannonball and Nat Adderley. Upon his return from military service, Fuller joined the quintet of Yusef Lateef, another Detroit musician. The quintet moved to New York in 1957, and Fuller recorded his first sessions as a leader with Prestige Records.[3][4]

Alfred Lion of Blue Note Records first heard Fuller playing with Miles Davis in the late 1950s. Fuller led four dates for Blue Note,[3] though one of these, an album with Slide Hampton, was not issued for many years.[6] Lion featured Fuller as a sideman on record dates led by Sonny Clark (Dial "S" for Sonny, Sonny's Crib) and John Coltrane (Blue Train).[7] Other sideman appearances over the next decade included album work under the leadership of Bud Powell, Jimmy Smith, Wayne Shorter,[3] Lee Morgan and Joe Henderson (a former roommate at Wayne State University in 1956).[5][8]

Fuller was the first trombonist to be part of the Art Farmer-Benny Golson Jazztet. In 1961, he became the sixth member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers and stayed with Blakey until 1965.[7][3] In the early 1960s, Fuller recorded two albums as a leader for Impulse! Records, having also recorded for Savoy Records, United Artists, and Epic after his obligations to Blue Note had ended.[3][8] In the late 1960s, he was part of Dizzy Gillespie's band that also featured Foster Elliott. Fuller went on tour with Count Basie and also reunited with Blakey and Golson.[3]

Later life

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Fuller married Catherine Rose Driscoll in 1980. She died of lung cancer in 2010; Fuller recorded his album The Story of Cathy & Me (2011) as a tribute.[9]

Fuller was granted an honorary doctorate of music from the Berklee College of Music in 1999.[10] Eight years later, he was honored as an NEA Jazz Master.[3] He continued to perform and record, and was a faculty member of the New York State Summer School of the Arts (NYSSSA) School of Jazz Studies (SJS).[11]

Fuller died May 8, 2021, at the age of 88. He had eight children, nine grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.[1]

Discography

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As leader

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Year recorded Title Label Year released Personnel/Notes
1957 New Trombone Prestige 1957 Quintet, with Fuller (trombone), Sonny Red (alto sax), Hank Jones (piano), Doug Watkins (bass), Louis Hayes (drums)[12]
1957 Curtis Fuller with Red Garland – with Red Garland Prestige New Jazz 1963 Quintet, with Fuller (trombone), Sonny Red (alto sax), Red Garland (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), Louis Hayes (drums)[12]
1957 Curtis Fuller and Hampton Hawes with French Horns – with Hampton Hawes Status 1965 Septet, with Fuller (trombone), David Amram, Julius Watkins (French horn), Sahib Shihab (alto sax), Hampton Hawes (piano), Addison Farmer (bass), Jerry Segal (drums); previously included on Baritones and French Horns (Prestige, 1958)[13]
1957 The Opener Blue Note 1957 Quintet, with Fuller (trombone), Hank Mobley (tenor sax), Bobby Timmons (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), Art Taylor (drums)[12]
1957 Bone & Bari Blue Note 1957 Quintet, with Fuller (trombone), Tate Houston (baritone sax), Sonny Clark (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), Art Taylor (drums)[12]
1957 Jazz … It's Magic! Regent 1958 Quintet, with Fuller (trombone), Sonny Red (alto sax), Tommy Flanagan (piano), George Tucker (bass), Louis Hayes (drums)[12]
1957 Curtis Fuller, Volume 3 Blue Note 1960 Quintet, with Fuller (trombone), Art Farmer (trumpet), Sonny Clark (piano), George Tucker (bass), Louis Hayes (drums)[12]
1958 Two Bones Blue Note 1980 Quintet, with Fuller and Slide Hampton (trombone), Sonny Clark (piano), George Tucker (bass), Charlie Persip (drums)[12]
1959 Sliding Easy United Artists 1959 Sextet, with Fuller (trombone), Lee Morgan (trumpet), Hank Mobley (tenor sax), Tommy Flanagan (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), Elvin Jones (drums)[12]
1959 Blues-ette Savoy 1959 Quintet, with Fuller (trombone), Benny Golson (tenor sax), Tommy Flanagan (piano), Jimmy Garrison (bass), Al Harewood (drums)[12]
1959 The Curtis Fuller Jazztet with Benny Golson – with Benny Golson Savoy 1959 Sextet, with Fuller (trombone), Lee Morgan (trumpet), Benny Golson (tenor sax), Wynton Kelly (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), Charlie Persip (drums)[12]
1959 Imagination Savoy 1960 Sextet, with Fuller (trombone), Thad Jones (trumpet), Benny Golson (tenor sax), McCoy Tyner (piano), Jimmy Garrison (bass), Dave Bailey (drums)[12]
1960 Images of Curtis Fuller Savoy 1975 Sextet, with Fuller (trombone), Wilbur Harden (trumpet), Yusef Lateef (flute, tenor sax), McCoy Tyner (piano), Jimmy Garrison (bass), Clifford Jarvis (drums)[12]
1960 Boss of the Soul-Stream Trombone Warwick 1961 Sextet, with Fuller (trombone), Freddie Hubbard (trumpet), Yusef Lateef (flute, tenor sax), Walter Bishop Jr. (piano), Buddy Catlett (bass), Stu Martin (drums)[12]
1961 The Magnificent Trombone of Curtis Fuller Epic 1961 Quintet, with Fuller (trombone), Les Spann (flute, guitar), Walter Bishop Jr. (piano), Buddy Catlett or Jimmy Garrison (bass), Stu Martin (drums)[12]
1961 Jazz Conference Abroad Smash 1961 With Fuller, David Baker, Melba Liston, Åke Persson (trombone), Benny Bailey, Paul Cohen, Rolf Ericson, Freddie Hubbard (trumpet), Julius Watkins (French horn), Joe Lopes, Phil Woods (alto sax), Budd Johnson (tenor sax), Eric Dixon (tenor sax, flute), Sahib Shihab (baritone sax, flute), Patti Bown (piano), Les Spann (flute, guitar), Buddy Catlett (bass), Stu Martin (drums)[12]
1961 South American Cookin' Epic 1961 Quintet, with Fuller (trombone), Zoot Sims (tenor sax), Tommy Flanagan (piano), Jymie Merritt (bass), Dave Bailey (drums)[12]
1961 Soul Trombone Impulse! 1962 Sextet, with Fuller (trombone), Freddie Hubbard (trumpet), Jimmy Heath (tenor sax), Cedar Walton (piano), Jymie Merritt (bass), Jimmy Cobb/G. T. Hogan (drums)[12]
1962 Cabin in the Sky Impulse! 1962 With Fuller, Wayne Andre, Bob Brookmeyer, Alan Raph, Kai Winding (trombone), Bernie Glow, Freddie Hubbard, Al De Risi, Ernie Royal (trumpet), Ray Alonge, James Buffington, Tony Miranda, Morris Secon (French horn), Harvey Phillips (tuba), Hank Jones (piano), Eddie Costa (piano, percussion), Art Davis (bass), Osie Johnson (drums); with Fuller (trombone), Jones (piano), Barry Galbraith (guitar), Milt Hinton (bass), Johnson (drums), Costa (percussion), Margaret Ross (harp), unnamed string section[12]
1971 Crankin' Mainstream 1973 With Fuller (trombone), Ramon Morris (tenor sax), Bill Hardman (trumpet), Jimmy Heath (soprano, tenor sax), George Cables (electric piano), Bill Washer (guitar), Stanley Clarke (bass, electric bass), Lenny White (drums, electric percussion)[12]
1972 Smokin' Mainstream 1972 Septet, with Fuller (trombone), Bill Hardman (trumpet), Jimmy Heath (soprano, tenor sax), Cedar Walton (piano, electric piano), Ted Dunbar (guitar), Mickey Bass (bass), Billy Higgins (drums)[12]
1978 Four on the Outside Timeless 1978 Quintet, with Fuller (trombone), Pepper Adams (baritone sax), James Williams (piano), Dennis Irwin (bass), John Yarling (drums)[12]
1978 Fire and Filigree Bee Hive 1979 Quintet, with Fuller (trombone), Sal Nistico (tenor sax), Walter Bishop Jr. (piano), Sam Jones (bass), Freddie Waits (drums)[12]
1982 Curtis Fuller Meets Roma Jazz Trio Timeless 1987 Quartet, with Fuller (trombone), Danilo Rea (piano), Enzo Pietropaoli (bass), Roberto Gatto (drums)[12]
1993 Blues-ette Part II Savoy 1993 Quintet, with Fuller (trombone), Benny Golson (tenor sax), Tommy Flanagan (piano), Ray Drummond (bass), Al Harewood (drums)[12]
2002 Curtis Fuller in New Orleans Progressive 2018 Sextet, with Fuller (trombone), Maurice Brown (trumpet), Javon Jackson (tenor sax), Peter Martin (piano), Bill Huntington (bass), Jason Marsalis (drums)[14]
2003 Up Jumped Spring – with Brad Goode Delmark 2004 Quintet, with Fuller (trombone), Brad Goode (trumpet), Karl Montzka (piano), Larry Gray/Stewart Miller (bass), Tim Davis (drums), Jacey Falk (vocal, one track)[12]
2003 Keep It Simple Savant 2005 Quintet, with Fuller (trombone), Javon Jackson (tenor sax), Doug Carn (piano), Rodney Jordan (bass), Fritz Wise (drums)[12]
2009 I Will Tell Her Capri 2010 Sextet, with Fuller (trombone), Keith Oxman (tenor sax), Al Hood (trumpet), Chip Stephens (piano), Ken Walker (bass), Todd Reid (drums); live[15]
2011 The Story of Cathy & Me Challenge 2011 With Fuller (trombone), Daniel Bauerkemper/Akeem Marable (tenor sax), Lester Walker (trumpet), Nick Rosen/Kenny Banks Jr. (piano), Brandy Brewer/Kevin Smith (bass), Henry Conerway III (drums), Clarence Levy (percussion, three tracks), Tia Michelle Rouse (vocal, two tracks)[16]
2011 Down Home Capri 2012 With Fuller (trombone), Keith Oxman (tenor sax), Al Hood (trumpet, flugelhorn), Chip Stephens (piano), Ken Walker (bass), Todd Reid (drums)[17]

As sideman

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Russonello, Giovanni (May 14, 2021). "Curtis Fuller, a Powerful Voice on Jazz Trombone, Dies at 88". The New York Times. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  2. ^ "Curtis Fuller Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "Curtis Fuller – Bio". National Endowment for the Arts. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  4. ^ a b c "Curtis Fuller". National Jazz Archive. January 1, 1976. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  5. ^ a b "2013 Curtis Fuller to sit in with WCSU jazz combos". Western Connecticut State University. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  6. ^ "Two Bones: Curtis Fuller – Releases". AllMusic. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  7. ^ a b Johnson, Martin (May 10, 2021). "Curtis Fuller, Leading Trombonist Of Jazz's Detroit Wave, Dies At 86". NPR. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  8. ^ a b Musto, Russ (December 1, 2008). "Curtis Fuller: Motor City Messenger". All About Jazz. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  9. ^ Whiteis, David (October 18, 2011). "Curtis Fuller: The Story of Cathy & Me". JazzTimes. Archived from the original on May 9, 2021. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  10. ^ "Curtis Fuller". Arts.gov. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
  11. ^ "NYSSSA SJS Artistic Staff". Archived from the original on July 4, 2010.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z "Curtis Fuller Discography". Jazz Discography Project. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
  13. ^ "Hampton Hawes Discography". Jazz Discography Project. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
  14. ^ "Curtis Fuller In New Orleans". Jazzology. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
  15. ^ Blanco, Edward (July 9, 2010). "Curtis Fuller: I Will Tell Her". All About Jazz. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
  16. ^ Blanco, Edward (September 16, 2011). "Curtis Fuller: The Story Of Cathy & Me". All About Jazz. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
  17. ^ Lindsay, Bruce (June 23, 2012). "Curtis Fuller: Down Home". All About Jazz. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq cr cs ct cu cv cw cx cy cz da db "Curtis Fuller – Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  19. ^ Chinen, Nate (December 4, 2009). "Giving a Great 1960s Jazz Album Its Groove Back". The New York Times. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  20. ^ Yanow, Scott. "Thermo: Art Blakey – Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  21. ^ "Art Blakey – Live at the Renaissance Club". Jazz Music Archives. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  22. ^ Yanow, Scott. "Gold Coast: John Coltrane – Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  23. ^ "Joe Farnsworth – Drumspeak". Jazz Music Archives. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  24. ^ Ankeny, Jason. "Take a Number from 1 to 10: Benny Golson – Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  25. ^ Lord, Tom (1992). The Jazz Discography. Vol. 7. Lord Music Reference. ISBN 9781881993063.
  26. ^ "Jazz Record Requests". BBC Radio 3. September 8, 2007. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  27. ^ "Lionel Hampton – Live In Europe (aka Live In Switzerland)". Jazz Music Archives. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  28. ^ Yanow, Scott. "Fast Company: Jimmy Heath – Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  29. ^ "Yusef Lateef – Jazz for the Thinker". Jazz Music Archives. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  30. ^ "Mike Longo 1972". Center for Jazz Studies. Columbia University. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  31. ^ "Herbie Mann – Afro Jazziac (aka With Flute To Boot! aka Super Mann Featuring Machito's Jazz Orchestra)". Jazz Music Archives. Retrieved May 10, 2021. Originally released in 1959 as Machito And His Afro-Cuban Jazz Ensemble's album "With Flute To Boot"(Roulette – SR-52026,US)
  32. ^ "Kenny Dorham – Hot Stuff From Brazil". Jazz Music Archives. Retrieved May 10, 2021. Originally released as V.A.- "Jazz Committee for Latin American Affairs"(Fred Miles FM 403)
  33. ^ Yanow, Scott. "Reunion Big Band: Dizzy Gillespie – Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  34. ^ Yanow, Scott. "Today: Gary McFarland – Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  35. ^ Nastos, Michael G. "Sweet Lotus Lips: Mickey Tucker – Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  36. ^ "Mickey Tucker – Theme For A Woogie-Boogie". Jazz Music Archives. Retrieved May 10, 2021.

See also

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