Jazz piano maestro Larry Fuller releases Overjoyed A treasure of stylistic flair and diversity featuring Lewis
Nash and Hassan Shakur
Larry Fuller - a masterful pianist whose soulful artistry
matches his sensational technical expertise - learned his craft the old school
way: on the bandstand. Honing his impressive talents with four giants of
mainstream jazz: the legendary bassist Ray Brown, famed vocalist Ernestine
Anderson, drum giant Jeff Hamilton, and acclaimed guitarist and vocalist John
Pizzarelli, Fuller developed a personal style both relentlessly swinging and
outwardly expressive. On his new release, Overjoyed (available May 17, 2019 via
Capri Records), Fuller translates that invaluable experience into a deeply
personal statement of jubilation directly communicated through rhythmically
charged, yet sensitively inflected, improvisation. Melding in harmony with the
bassist Hassan Shakurand drummer Lewis Nash, Fuller and his gifted compatriots
inject soul and cheer into the Great American Songbook, Jazz, Blues, and Pop
standards as well as companionable originals.
Fuller brings his own take to a sweeping variety of
compositions including Stevie Wonder's classic "Overjoyed"; Oscar
Peterson's "Bossa Beguine," Wes Montgomery's "Fried Pies,"
Ray Bryant's "Cubano Chant," Ray Brown's "Lined with a
Groove," and Richard Evans' "Bossa Nova Do Marilla"; the
standards "How Long Has This Been Going On?," "Never Let Me
Go" and "Mona Lisa"; the blues workhorse "Got My Mojo
Workin'"; and his own finely constructed originals, "Jane's
Theme" and "The Mooch". Exhibiting
an outsized command of his instrument balanced by tasteful displays of inward
beauty, Fuller has the worlds of swing, bebop and the blues at his command and
isn't shy about sharing his gifts to engage the full emotional response of the
listener. Whether meshing flawlessly with his rhythm mates, or exhibiting his
finely honed sensitivity and imagination throughout lyrical solo performances
("Never Let Me Go" and "How Long Has This Been Going On?"),
Fuller speaks with his own pianistic voice.
Famed for the exuberance he brings to the bandstand and the
seamless connection that he makes with his audience, Fuller's artistic message
is as forthright as his music itself: "To uplift people with the joyous
sprit of the music. To play with joy, to swing and play the blues. These are
the hallmarks of jazz that inspired me as a child. They are traditions that I
continue to aspire to."
A native of Toledo, Ohio, Fuller was playing professionally
as a pre-teenager. The late eighties and early nineties found him working with
vocal legend Ernestine Anderson as both pianist and musical director. After a
noted stint with the celebrated West Coast-based drummer Jeff Hamilton, Fuller
found fame with Ray Brown, performing with the bass boss until Brown's passing.
Fuller then became an integral member of John Pizzarelli's ensembles for nearly
a decade. (Among the other jazz notables that he has worked with are Stanley
Turrentine, Harry "Sweets Edison," Phil Woods, and Clark Terry.)
Fuller has led the Larry Fuller Trio since 2013; he has released three albums
as a leader since 2005.
No comments:
Post a Comment