Champian Fulton - Champian (2007)

Singer/pianist Champian Fulton makes an impressive debut with David Berger and the Sultans of Swing in this collection of time-tested standards, many of which have unjustly fallen out of favor. Fulton is gifted with an expressive voice, clear diction, and a great sense of rhythm, while Berger's arrangements provide perfect accompaniment. "I Didn't Mean a Word I Said" is a laconic ballad, but Fulton injects a bit of sass into it, even though singing pretty close to the melody. It is refreshing to hear a singer sing show tunes with the verse intact, which set up a song, but are all too frequently omitted when performed outside the context of a musical. Her playful side comes through in the driving take of "Just One of Those Things," following trombonist Ryan Keberle's half chorus with a bit of Ella Fitzgerald-like scat.

The band's loopy setup of "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" adds an old-fashioned male vocal chorus to back Fulton plus a few humorous asides to update the vintage lyrics, along with an amusing narrative by Matt Hong. Fulton delights in "Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens," a jive song associated with Louis Jordan. She moves to the piano for an intimate duet with bassist Dennis Irwin, accompanying herself in "You Turned the Tables on Me" and "Never-the-Less" (the latter a solo effort by Fulton). Champian Fulton will clearly be one to watch on the jazz scene. ~ Ken Dryden

Debut album of up and coming young female Jazz vocalist singing standards with top New York big band. A recording for everyone who likes songs and singers, with 14 new arrangements from the Great American Songbook sung by the hottest new singe.

Personnel: Champian Fulton (vocals, piano); Jay Brandford (reeds); Brian 'Fletch' Pareschi, Michael Rodriguez (trumpet); Dennis Irwin (bass guitar); Matt Hong (vocals, reeds); Ryan Keberle (vocals, trombone); Carl Maraghi, Daniel Block, Mark Hynes (reeds); Irv Grossman, Bob Millikan (trumpet); Marshall Gilkes, Wayne Goodman (trombone); Isaac Ben Ayala (piano); Jimmy Madison (drums).