Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Curtis Fuller: I Will Tell Her

383

Curtis Fuller: I Will Tell Her

By

Sign in to view read count
Curtis Fuller: I Will Tell Her
The title song and two-disc set are dedicated to a true love, but the music is clearly for the audience. I Will Tell Her, by trombonist Curtis Fuller, achieves plenty.

The title song was written for Fuller's wife of 30 years, Cathy, who died before getting a chance to hear the music. The artist explains that she was a source of inspiration. That love comes through clearly in the 14 tracks—eight recorded in studio and six during a performance at Dazzle, a jazz club in Denver.

"Minor's Holiday," one of four songs that appear in both sets, has a small, big-band feel. As a unit, the three horns sound like a fuller section. After the opening sequence, Chip Stephens solos over bass and drums. Alan Hood performs a free-spirited solo, followed by Keith Oxman and Fuller.

"Maze" has a cool backbeat, with plenty of action by Stephens, Ken Walker and Todd Reid. Oxman is out front much of the time, putting the tenor through some throaty grinds and high-pitch squeals. At times, there is the twang of the bass strings. For the live version, the band nearly doubles the length of "The Court." Fuller leads, with Hood and Oxman answering his calls. The muted trombone has a wah-wah feel. Hood and Stephens stretch out on solos.

The live version of "Maze" doesn't stand out much, relative to the studio recording. It's like listening to live and studio versions of Freddie Hubbard's "Red Clay" on the same CD. When the session recording is of exceptional quality, there's not much to ask for in the live version. Yet, Fuller's band—like Hubbard's—does provide something extra. Solos are longer and mood changes are a little more distinct. Also, Hood delivers a Hubbard-like solo, making the trumpet bounce and snap back during some phrases.

Combined, the two discs of I Will Tell Her run just short of two hours. Pairing a studio session with a concert gives a strong sense of how well this band interacts.

Track Listing

CD1: Time Off; Sagittarius; Minor's Holiday; I Will Tell Her; Maze; The Court; Alamode; The Clan; CD2: Tenor Madness; The Court; I Will Tell Her; Maze; I Want to Talk About You; Minor's Holiday.

Personnel

Curtis Fuller
trombone

Curtis Fuller: trombone; Keith Oxman: tenor sax; Al Hood: trumpet; Chip Stephens: piano; Ken Walker: bass; Todd Reid: drums.

Album information

Title: I Will Tell Her | Year Released: 2010 | Record Label: Capri Records

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris
Candid
Sunny Five
Inside Colours Live
Julie Sassoon

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.