The Tia Fuller Quartet at Jazz Standard

contents

jazz

Saxophonist-flutist Tia Fuller and her all-female working band-pianist (and sister) Shamie Fuller-Royston; bassist Miriam Sullivan; and drummer Kim Thompson-will perform music from Tia's debut CD for Mack Avenue Records, Healing Space, Monday, Feburary 4 at Jazz Standard. With 10 original compositions, Healing Space explores themes of transgression, reflection and deliverance. "My prayer is that (Healing Space) serves as a healing agent for others and for people to feel uplifted when listening to it.

To not only aid in one's healing, but wholeness and restoration, " states Fuller. Healing Space also features special guests on several tracks: label mates trumpeter Sean Jones and tenor saxophonist Ron Blake; and percussionist Kahlil Kwame Bell.

Music filled Tia Fuller's childhood growing up in Aurora, Colorado, as her parents were jazz musicians. Her piano-playing sister Shamie was also an early influence, as Fuller began playing piano at age 3 and continued studying classical piano until she was 13. During that time, she also began studying the flute. Her jazz curiosities sprouted while she entered middle school, but since there weren't any flute parts for jazz band, she switched to saxophone. After graduating from Gateway High School, Fuller attended Spelman College in Atlanta, where she received her B.A. in Music for undergrad then the University of Colorado, where she earned a masters degree in Jazz Pedagogy and Performance in 2000. After moving to the New York area in 2001, Fuller's name circulated as a skillful saxophonist capable of doubling on the flute in the jazz community, attracting the likes of T.S. Monk, Jon Faddis, Ralph Peterson, Jr., Nancy Wilson, Gerald Wilson, Don Byron, and Jesse Davis.

In addition, Fuller (and drummer Kim Thompson) is also a member of R&B superstar Beyoncé's all-female touring band, and both are featured in Beyoncé's video, "Irreplaceable."

write your comments about the article :: © 2008 Jazz News :: home page