featuring:

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

selections:

Disc 1 (Studio)

1. Time Off  6:23
2. Sagittarius  5:16
3. Minor's Holiday  6:05
4. I Will Tell Her  9:18
5. Maze  8:03
6. The Court  5:38
7. Alamode  6:18
8. The Clan  6:04

Disc 2 (Live)

1. Tenor Madness  13:26
2. The Court  11:00
3. I Will Tell Her  12:44
4. Maze  11:59
5. I Want to Talk About You  9:27
6. Minor's Holiday  6:06

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Reviews

Joyous sounds.

Curtis Fuller can make his trombone sound like the instrument was made for straight-ahead jazz, even though very few trombonists have been successful at holding their own in the front line with saxophonists and trumpeters. Fuller played on the mythic "Blue Train" album for John Coltrane, and that's where Denver tenor saxophonist Keith Oxman heard Fuller, likely when Oxman was in the throes of Coltrane worship. A friendship was struck between the two, and the new two-CD set under Fuller's name, "I Will Tell Her," documents their mutual admiration.

The cover art for "I Will Tell Her" is reminiscent of a prime Blue Note-era date, and that's the predominant feeling of the first disc, made in the studio with spirited exchanges between Fuller and Oxman, aided by top-shelf Colorado players Chip Stephens (piano), Ken Walker (bass) Todd Reid (drums) and Al Hood (trumpet). The sextet stretches out on the second disc, recorded at Dazzle last year. The band's take on Sonny Rollins' "Tenor Madness" is energetic, agreeable and a telling showcase for Oxman, who remains a well-kept secret outside of Denver.

"I Will Tell Her" is joyous stuff, and the 100th release on the local Capri label, run by jazz faithful Thomas Burns. It's as much of a triumph for Burns as it is for Fuller and Oxman.

Bret Saunders – The Denver Post

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This exceptionally good double album features the playing and writing of Curtis Fuller, a major jazz trombonist whose past accomplishments took him through spells with Art Blakey, Dizzy Gillespie and Count Basie. Added to which, he was on John Coltrane's Blue Train. Here, Curtis is captured on two sessions recorded in Denver in May 2009, a regular venue for him and one that he clearly enjoys. During this particular visit a recording sessions was lined up and a few days earlier Curtis and his band, local musicians with whom he has had a long and fruitful relationship, played at Dazzle, a Denver restaurant with an admirable music policy. The gig was recorded and later it was decided that this live session was of such a high standard that it was worth releasing alongside the studio date. So, here are two CDs, the first of which is the studio date, the second the previously recorded Dazzle date.

With Curtis here are trumpeter Al Hood, tenor saxophonist Keith Oxman, pianist Chip Stephens, bassist Ken Walker and drummer Todd Reid. Some of the pieces played appear on both sessions but this is certainly no detriment. The solos are different and on the live date the band stretches out more. Apart from 'Tenor Madness', by Sonny Rollins, 'Minor's Holiday', by Kenny Dorham, and 'I Want To Talk About You', by Billy Eckstein and Anne Rachel, all the music is composed by Curtis and are mostly medium and up-tempo pieces played with drive and verve. The work used as the album title was composed several decades ago for Curtis's wife and this, its first recording, is a moving tribute to their long and happy marriage. The other fine ballad here is 'I Want To Talk About You', which features an expressive solo from Keith. Altogether, a fine set and one that should have a wide appeal to all lovers of jazz in the post-bop mainstream.

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One simply can't help but reconcile with the panoply of both talent and artistry when you listen to jazz trombonist Curtis Fuller's take of the jazz ballad ''I Will Tell Her''... So moving!!  So Poignant!! This CD project just oozes with anything that one might associate with the jazz idiom, and Fuller's sidemen exemplify this! I'm not familiar with jazz pianist's Chip Stephens, but I must attest to the control he exhibits with his choices of strong jazz harmony as well as viable melodic motifs expressed within the project.

Curtis has filled his project with wondrous splashes of lyrical beauty and music that is both gentle and most approachable. The CD therefore unfolds itself with great deliberation, magnificence, plus an attendant marvellous sense of 'space' as it were. Bach could not have done any better!!

George W. Carroll

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There is a sense of sadness apparent in this fine new recording from trombonist Curtis Fuller - whose wife of 34 years (Cathy) recently passed away. The listener will be hard pressed to keep a dry eye during Fuller's solos on the title track - a ballad written 40 years ago for his late wife - and one she never had a chance to hear recorded. But this is more than a tribute album, and there is also a strong sense of joy of life and the spirit of perseverance expressed - appropriate sentiments from a man who emerged from a Detroit orphanage to become one of the finest trombonists in the history of jazz - one who was the first call choice of such luminaries as Art Blakey, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Bud Powell, Wayne Shorter, Jimmy Smith and many more giants of the era. As a member of Blakey's Jazz Messengers, Fuller was expected to take a lead role akin to the sax and trumpet, and as such, helped elevate the instrument.

This new recording is a double CD release, featuring a live set as well as a studio recording. The band on this occasion consists of some of Denver's finest jazz musicians, including tenor saxophonist Keith Oxman - who became firm friends with Fuller when they met in 2005, subsequently releasing Dues in Progress in 2005. The camaraderie they felt with all the impressive musicians involved (Al Hood on trumpet, Chip Stephens on piano, Ken Walker on bass and Todd Reid on drums) led them to record this release of primarily Fuller compositions under Fuller's name. The recording is mostly hard driving straight-ahead tunes like the opening "Time Out," Kenny Dorham's "Minor's Holiday," the simmering and harmonious "Sagittarius," the African rhythm-filled "Maze," bouncy "The Court," fast-walking "Alamode" and the powerful disc-ending "The Clan" - which almost sets the speakers on fire with its ferocious energy. At age 75, Fuller is still playing at a high level and the interaction between these talented players is wonderful. The studio tracks are superb and warm, and the live ones (not originally intended for release) are extended and feature some of the hottest and most personal playing. Sonny Rollins' "Tenor Madness" is a case in point, as is the delightful Billy Eckstine number "I Want To Talk About You," (both showcasing Oxman to great effect) while the live version of the title track is simply heartbreaking in its beauty. If you dig those Blue Note label hard bop releases of yore, you are sure to want to grab a copy of this excellent double release that celebrates the life, love, friendship and music of an outstanding jazz artist.

Brad Walseth – Jazz Chicago.net

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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. Al 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.

Woodrow Wilkins – All About Jazz

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The eminent bebop trombonist Curtis Fuller is in his 75th year and can still spin out the mellow gold.

He's not as fast as he used to be, or as precise. But there's no mistaking the big tone, which lights up originals like the title track and some boppish standards throughout this rambunctious, two-disc recording, one live and the other in the studio.

Fuller rides with a sextet, led by tenor saxophonist Keith Oxman, who teaches jazz at Denver's East High School and sounds in the groove on Fuller's "Maze." The mile-high posse here includes pianist Chip Stephens, trumpeter Al Hood, bassist Ken Walker, and drummer Todd Reid.

Fuller conjures up an era with the Oliver Nelson-sounding "Alamode." On the uneven live set, the band kicks off with some heat on "Tenor Madness," then winds through some scorchers and ballads before finishing high again with Kenny Dorham's "Minor's Holiday."

Fuller dedicates the sets to his wife, Cathy, who died in January.

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You can trace trombonist Curtis Fuller's career back to John Coltrane's
classic "Blue Train" and the records he made with Art Blakey, Bud Powell,
Lee Morgan, and countless other greats since 1956. There's no doubt about
it, Fuller can claim a large chunk of jazz history. But over all those
decades Fuller has released only three-dozen albums as a leader, so when he
does, it's an occasion. Aside from his trombone prowess, Fuller is a great
writer and most of the tracks on his wonderful new double CD are his
compositions. While the title tune is a beautiful ballad, most of the others
are up-tempo. All are jazz classics with great heads and ample room for
improvisation over their inventive chord changes. Aside from Fuller's own
excellent solos, he's got just the band to take superb flights at every
turn: Keith Oxman on tenor sax; Al Hood, trumpet; Chip Stephens, piano; Ken
Walker, bass; and Todd Reid, drums. Best of all, in addition to the
carefully crafted studio tracks, there's a second CD featuring a spirited
live set by the same fantastic band.

By Ron Netsky on July 21, 2010 Rochester City Newspaper