Champian Fulton's Live Django show reviewed in the NYC Jazz Record! (July 2021)

Joy is contagious when a performer exudes it. Pianist- vocalist Champian Fulton at The Django (Jun. 16th) generously and consistently dispensed that quality, delivering sophisticated, swinging turns whatever she played. Opener “East of the Sun, West of the Moon” clearly established piano and vocal skills on an even par. If Blossom Dearie and Duke Ellington had a love child, it could well have been Fulton. Her vocal tone is reminiscent of the former—light and girlish—but with more heft; her attack on the keys is intelligently percussive: energetic and determined, yet without a hint of heaviness. Superb vocal-phrasing skills were especially evident in a creative “Bubbles, Bangles and Beads”, a harmonically rich tune derivative of an Alexander Borodin string quartet. A few numbers without vocals, such as a jaunty ”What Can I Say After I Say I’m Sorry?” and “The Jitterbug Waltz”, demonstrated musical storytelling prowess through clean technique. The sublime bassist Hide Tanaka and solid drummer Fukushi Tainaka added delicious synchronic texture. The former brought an ethereal quality, sometimes reminiscent of koto playing; his bowing, especially on “I’ll See You in My Dreams”, a tour de force. Guest alto saxophonist Nick Hempton came aboard for the last three numbers of the set. He’s a solid, if unsmiling and serious player (in need of a dose of Fulton joy), demonstrating agility on a slow tempo “Just Friends” and a lightly swinging “You Turned the Tables on Me”. (ML)

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Pictures by Chihiro Tainaka (supplied by artist)