Champian Fulton Trio
30th Anniversary Jazz Brunch
Sunday, July 27, noon
Born in Norman, Oklahoma, in 1985, Champian began her career at age 10, performing at the 75th Birthday Party for jazz legend Clark Terry. Since then, she has appeared on stage with jazz royalty like Lou Donaldson, Frank Wess, Scott Hamilton, Nicholas Payton, the WDR Jazz Orchestra, Jeff Hamilton and many more. Drum legend Louis Hayes performed for her senior recital at SUNY Purchase College. After moving to New York in 2003, she began performing at Birdland. In 2023, she and Birdland celebrated their 20-year friendship with the release of Meet Me at Birdland. NYC Jazz Record named it Best Vocal Album of the Year.
Champian is in demand nationally and internationally, with performances at scores of clubs, prestigious venues and exotic locations from San Diego to South Korea. On television, she performed in the Emmy-nominated special Take Me Back to Manhattan. With her passion for “passing it on,” she has taught at Rutgers Jazz Institute and Litchfield Jazz Camp.
Fulton has released 19 albums, many with her dad, trumpeter and flugelhornist Steven Fulton, and other distinguished guests. Birdsong features drummer Scott Hamilton, Live From Lockdown recalls her pandemic livestream series, Sings and Swings features saxophonist Eric Alexander, and After Dark with drummer Lewis Nash honors the music of Dinah Washington. Her recent project, Flying High, is a tribute to the big band era. The Stylings of Champian features her longtime working band of 20 years—Fukushi Tainaka on drums and Hide Tanaka on bass.
Her latest release, At Home, is an intimate collaboration with Swedish clarinetist Klas Lindquist. Recorded in summer 2024 and released in May, the album features a relaxed and joyful set of songs the duo genuinely loves to play. With liner notes by two-time Grammy winner Ricky Riccardi, the album has already earned praise for its tender, polished sound—Paris-Moves called it “softly glowing… modest, tender, unguarded.” The LP, featuring a striking red cover, is available on Bandcamp and at her live shows.
Champian Fulton’s July 27 Litchfield Jazz Festival appearance with her Trio celebrates the 30th Anniversary of the festival with her outstanding music and a splendid Jazz Brunch. This fourth appearance with Litchfield Jazz is sponsored by White Flower Farm.
