Femme Fatale Friday: Saxophonist Tia Fuller

❁Good morning❁

I'm resurrecting something that I did online for about a year. Every Friday I would play music of female musicians and vocalists for people on Twitter to listen to. This is a take on that concept - I'll be highlighting one female artist every Friday instead of 20.

Enjoy ~

Who is Tia Fuller?

Tia Fuller is an alto/soprano saxophonist, composer and educator that you should know about if you don't. She has made a name for herself in Atlanta, New York and the rest of the jazz world as both a leader and a contributor. 

What has she done?

Her third CD as a leader, "Decisive Steps" (Mack Avenue), was released in March 2010 to rave reviews. (Watch the EPK below in the first video).

Her previous releases as a leader are 2005's "Pillar of Strength" (on Wambui) and "Healing Space" (Mack Avenue) which was released in 2007.

 She has been a member of Beyoncé's all female touring band since 2007. Don't shake your head (I'm talking to "old school" jazzheads here) with disapproval and write her skills off  ~ she does the popular music fantastically without losing her jazz "chops". I've seen her perform live in NYC and she is fierce!

Where can you see her perform?

• June 4th, Straight Ahead feat. Tia at Charles Christian Jazz Festival (Oklahoma City - 7PM)
• June 5th, Brandon Sanders Trio feat. Tia at Londel's Restaurant (Harlem NYC - 8-11PM)
• June 12th, Tia Fuller Quartet at PA Jazz Festival (Harrisburg, PA - 8PM-9:15PM)
• June 14th, Tia Fuller Quartet at 2010 JJA Awards at City Winery (NYC - TBA)
• June 18th, Tia Fuller Quartet at Phila Museum of Art (Philadelphia - TBA [evening])
• June 19th, Wycliffe Gordon Quintet feat. Tia at Jazz Fest (Seaport, CT evening)
• June 25th, Warren Wolf Quartet feat. Tia, at JazzWay (Washington, DC 6PM)
• July 16th, Tia Fuller Quartet at African-American Leadership Forum (Minneapolis, MN - TBA)
• Aug 4th, Tia Fuller Quartet at JazzMobile (Harlem NYC - 7PM- 8:30PM)
• Aug 7th, Guest Artist at African American Jazz Festival (Rochester, NY 2PM-4PM)
• Aug 12th, Tia Fuller Quartet at It's Commonly Jazz Festival (Cincinnati, OH - 7PM)
• Sept 1-4, Tia Fuller Quartet at Dirty Dog Jazz Club Festival (Grosse Pointe, MI - 3sets Fri/Sat)
• Sept 5th, Tia Fuller Quartet at Detroit Jazz Festival (Detroit, MI - TBA evening)
• Sept 12, Tia Fuller Quartet at Somerville Jazz Festival (Somerville, NJ - TBA)

Have you seen Tia Fuller perform live? Was it with her band or was it with Beyoncé? What did you think about her performance?

If you have any of her albums, it would be cool if you left a comment regarding your thoughts about her music.

Thank you and have a great weekend!

Comments

[J Blair Brown]

Tia Fuller, along with Patti Austin, Helen Sung, Anat Cohen and DIVA, will perform at the Central PA Friends of Jazz (CPFJ) 30th Annual Jazz Festival, June 10th-13th in Harrisburg, PA.

I can't tell you how anxious I am to be able to experience this festival. In fact, the entire festival pays homage to women in jazz as this year's theme indicates (Dedicated to Women in Jazz).

As an avid jazz lover, I'm really looking forward to Fuller's gig - especially since her Decisive Steps CD is hot on the charts. I'm also excited to be able to speak with her personally during the open panel discussion on Sat the 12th at 1pm - because I really would like to know how she separates the 'popular' music (for instance, when touring with Beyonce) from the jazz - which is where she clearly shines! I find her extremely talented and grounded. Next weekend can't get here fast enough for me!

[Donna M]

Hi! It is so cool that you are attending the CPFJ's 30th Annual Jazz Festival! I also was excited about the schedule when I posted info about the Festival back in April during Jazz Appreciation Month.

You should have a fantastic time!