Curtis Fuller

Curtis Fuller (born in Detroit, December 15, 1934) is an American jazz trombonist.

Related Topics:
Detroit - December 15 - 1934 - American - Jazz - Trombonist

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Fuller's parents were Jamaican and died when he was young, so he was raised in an orphanage. While in Detroit he was a schoolfriend of Paul Chambers and Donald Byrd, and also knew Tommy Flanagan, Thad Jones and Milt Jackson.

Related Topics:
Jamaica - Paul Chambers - Donald Byrd - Tommy Flanagan - Thad Jones - Milt Jackson

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After army service between 1953 and 1955 (when he played in a band with Chambers and brothers Cannonball and Nat Adderley), Fuller joined the quintet of Yusef Lateef, another Detroit musician. In 1957 the quintet moved to New York, and Fuller recorded for Prestige Records as a leader. He was also a member of the Benny Golson Jazztet, and Alfred Lion of Blue Note Records first heard him playing with Miles Davis during the late fifties.

Related Topics:
1953 - 1955 - Cannonball - Nat Adderley - Yusef Lateef - 1957 - New York - Prestige Records - Benny Golson - Alfred Lion - Blue Note Records - Miles Davis

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Fuller went on to record for Blue Note as a leader and sideman, most famously on John Coltrane's Blue Train, but also with Art Blakey (Fuller was a member of the Jazz Messengers for five years), Jimmy Smith, Bud Powell, Wayne Shorter, Lee Morgan, Joe Henderson and many others.

Related Topics:
John Coltrane - Blue Train - Art Blakey - Jimmy Smith - Bud Powell - Wayne Shorter - Lee Morgan - Joe Henderson

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In the late sixties he was part of Dizzy Gillespie's band, and he went on to tour with Count Basie and to reunite with Blakey and Golson. He continues to perform and record.

Related Topics:
Dizzy Gillespie - Count Basie

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