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The Lion's Roar

The Official Student News Media of Southeastern Louisiana University

The Lion's Roar

The Official Student News Media of Southeastern Louisiana University

The Lion's Roar

    Champian Fulton Quartet continues “Feel the Heat” tour at the Columbia

    The Columbia Theatre echoed with applause in response to the classic Jazz music performed by Champian Fulton and her Quartet of musicians.

    The Champian Fulton Quartet performed at the Columbia Theatre last Friday night at 7:30 p.m. as part of their tour.  

    Champian Fulton played the piano, Pete Zimmer played the drums, Hide Tanaka led the bass, while Fulton’s father, Steven Fulton tuned the flugelhorn bringing the theater goers a night of classic jazz songs and new creations from her quartet. Among some of the songs in her repertoire were: “Tea for Two, It’ll Be Alright,” “The Shadow of Your Smile, Chops” and “Day In Day Out.” The songs performed by the quartet received resounding praise and multiple standing ovations.

    “I thought her CD had a lot of heart, passion and soul poured into it,” said Aryn Bunch, a freshman business administration major. “Every song had a meaning to it. She really related to her music, and I think that makes her music better, because she cares what she is singing about.”

    Among the attendees in the audience were Fulton’s aunt and grandmother.

    “We haven’t seen her perform since January of 2009,” said Dale McNitt, Fulton’s aunt. “And being able to see her play was just wonderful, we’re just so glad that you invited her.”

    The tour started in Washington D.C. and continued on to Germantown, TN, Memphis and Tupelo before heading to Hammond.

    “It’s my first time in all these cities and in all these states, but it has been really lovely,” said Fulton. “It’s very nice, being around all these nice southern people, reminds me of home.”

    According to her website, Fulton is a native of Oklahoma and currently resides in New York performing and teaching jazz music at many NYC venues.

    “I grew up with jazz in the house and I just fell in love with it ever since I heard Charley Harper sing,” said Fulton. “And I just thought it was the most beautiful thing in the world and I just wanted to play it and be a part of it.”

    After working with jazz legends such as Jimmy Cobb, Frank Wess, Lou Donaldson and Louis Hayes, she recorded her self-titled debut album, “Champian”, in 2007, with David Berger and The Sultans of Swing. Since her debut, she has recorded two more follow-up albums with Venus. A longtime advocate of jazz education, Fulton is currently involved with LEAP NYC(Learning through an Expanded Arts Program), which teaches Jazz appreciation of New York Public Schools.

    “I just really want to make people happy by playing my music,” said Fulton. “And share my happiness at being able to play in front of people. That is why we are on tour, and that is why I play. I just want to make people happy.”

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