Drew Hayden

Muse 250
Dr. Palmer
4/26/16
Curtis Fuller: A brief biography and selected Discography

Curtis Fuller is an American Jazz Trombonist. When looking at his discography it

is readily apparent that he is the real deal. Curtis Fuller has worked with pretty much all
of the Jazz greats. Hes worked with Miles Davis, Cannonball Adderley, John Coltrane,
Wayne Shorter, Lee Morgan, Paul Chambers, Dizzy Gillespie, Count Basie, and was the
sixth member of Art Blakeys Jazz Messengers. He is famed for his graceful and
virtuosic style of playing. He took what could be an awkward instrument and made it
sound very fluid. His signature move on trombone were octave jumps in his solos and
his overall virtuosity.
Curtis Fuller was born on December 15th, 1934 in Detroit. Fullers parents died
while he was still very young so Fuller was raised in an orphanage. Fuller was raise in
the orphanage for ten years. Fullers interest in Jazz is credited to when a nun to him to
see Illinois Jacquets band which featured JJ Johnson on the Trombone. While going to
school Fuller became friends with the legendary bass player Paul Chambers. High
School was when Fuller began to study music. Fuller started playing the baritone in
High School but eventually made the fateful switch to trombone at the age of 16. After
High School Fuller played in one of the Army Bands. This was were Fuller would really
develop as a musician. While in the army band Fuller met and played alongside
Cannonball Adderley. Fuller played in the Army for 2 years and then returned to Detroit.

After returning to Detroit Fuller played in the Yusef Lateef Quintet before the quintet
moved to New York in 1957 and recorded several records.
After the move to New York Fuller seemed to never stop being busy. It was at this
time that Fuller started to play with Miles Davis. An executive from Blue Note Records
saw Fuller performing with Miles Davis and then signed him as a Blue Note artist.
Following this Fuller played on Blue Train by John Coltrane, which is likely Fullers most
listened to work. In 1961 Curtis Fuller turned Art Blakeys Jazz Messengers into a sextet
and created what many consider to be one of the most exciting bands of the Hard Bop
genre. Fuller played with the Jazz Messengers for four years until 1965.
In 1968 Fuller toured throughout Europe with Dizzy Gillespie. After returning to
America Fuller did several sessions in New York. In the 1970s fuller experimented quite
a bit. Fuller played in a band which played hard bop arrangements with electronic
instruments. Fuller headed the group along with guitar player Bill Washer and bassist
Stanley Clarke. Following this period of experimentation Fuller toured with Count Basie.
He toured with Count Basie from 1975-1977. Fuller has done many projects since then
and has worked with many of the great jazz artists.
In more recent years Curtis Fuller has turn more towards education and is an in
demand clinician. Curtis Fuller has done clinics at many prestigious universities. Curtis
Fuller also holds an honorary Doctorate from Berklee College of Music.

Curtis Fuller

Selected Discography
Blues-ette, Savoy, 1956
Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Ugetsu, Riverside/OJC, 1963
Crankin', MRL, 1973
The Jazztet, Real Time, Contemporary, 1986
Keep It Simple, Savant, 2003

Reference list
"Curtis Fuller." : The Hard Bop Homepage. Web. 24 Apr. 2016.
"NEA Jazz Masters." Home. Web. 24 Apr. 2016.
The Opener Curtis Fuller. Blue Note, 1957. CD.