Requisites

Blues-ette ~ Curtis Fuller Quintet | By Eddie Carter

Curtis Fuller is widely regarded as one of the top jazz trombonists. A few nights ago, I enjoyed listening to this morning’s album from the library, and that’s what inspired this discussion of his 1959 release, Blues-ette (Savoy MG-12141/SST-13006). Throughout his more than 65 years in music, Fuller built an impressive catalog of recordings, both as a band leader and as a sideman, including work with Joe Henderson, Lee Morgan, Bud Powell, Wayne Shorter, Jimmy Smith, the Jazz Messengers, and the Jazztet. On this album, he’s joined by fellow Jazztet member Benny Golson on tenor saxophone, Tommy Flanagan on piano, Jimmy Garrison on bass, and Al Harewood on drums. The copy of this album I own is the 1973 U.S. stereo reissue, which shares the original catalog number.

Five Spot After Dark by Benny Golson opens the album. It’s a delightful medium-tempo tune that the front line brings to life with the melody. Curtis begins with a relaxing, welcoming solo. Benny blends each note of the following reading with a joyful energy. Tommy keeps the beat alive in the third interpretation. Jimmy joins the front line for the closing statement, leading to the ending theme and climax. Undecided by Sydney Robin and Charlie Shavers is a catchy tune that opens with the quintet laying down a gorgeous mid-tempo beat on the theme. Fuller takes center stage next with an impressive interpretation. Golson comes right behind him with an irresistible improvisation. Harewood provides a concise, impactful solo alongside both horns, building up to a lively reprise and a satisfying ending.

The title tune, Blues-ette by Curtis Fuller, wraps up the first side with Tommy’s sprightly introduction to the melody’s theme. Curtis sets the mood in the opening statement, delivering an understated and moving narrative. Benny effortlessly rises to the occasion in the following performance. Tommy follows with a dazzling display, then Jimmy caps the solos with a short walk to the ensemble’s close. Benny Golson’s Minor Vamp is anything but, as the second side unfolds, beginning with Garrison and Harewood’s introduction to the lively melody. Golson kicks off the solos, pouring his heart into each note. Fuller gives a captivating performance of lively verses next. Flanagan gets the last word with an energetic solo, ahead of the ensemble’s closing chorus and fadeout.

Love Your Spell Is Everywhere by Edmund Goulding and Elsie Janis begins with the quintet’s medium-tempo theme. Benny takes the lead with an exquisitely crafted performance. Next, Curtis gets into the groove with an exceptional reading that’s cool, smooth, and polished. Tommy executes the closing statement with meticulous execution ahead of the ensemble’s end theme and close. Garrison and Harewood open the door to the quintet’s easygoing unison melody to Curtis Fuller’s Twelve-Inch. Golson takes the stage first with a sweet and tasty reading. Fuller makes his case next with a captivating contribution. Flanagan moves sprightly along in the third solo, and Garrison puts the exclamation point on the song before the quintet comes back together to wrap things up.

“Blues-ette” was supervised by Oscar “Ozzie” Cadena, and Rudy Van Gelder managed the recording controls. The sound quality of this reissue is exemplary. The instruments deliver a vibrant soundstage that places the listener’s sweet spot in the studio with the musicians. If you’re a longtime fan of Curtis Fuller or are just discovering his discography, I invite you to check out “Blues-ette” on your next trip to your favorite record store. It’s a terrific album and is highly recommended for anyone’s library who enjoys hard-bop or lively “blowing sessions.”

~ Love Your Spell Is Everywhere – Source: Wikipedia.org © 2025 by Edward Thomas Carter

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Gerry Brown was born on November 9, 1951 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He began playing the drums at the age of five and played with soul groups and played in high school with bassist John Lee, with whom he attended music academy in 1970.

In 1971, he moved to New York City where he played with Lionel Hampton. In 1972 he moved to the Netherlands with Lee to join Chris Hinze’s rock jazz group. They recorded a series of albums in the 1970s. Alongside Lee, he also worked for Jasper van ‘t Hof, Toto Blanke, Charlie Mariano, Eef Albers and Gary Bartz mid-decade. Subsequently, they were members of Larry Coryell’s The Eleventh House for two years; Brown also played for Stanley Clarke and Chick Corea. In 1979, he accompanied Didier Lockwood at the Montreux Jazz Festival.

Settling in Berlin, Germany for some time in 1982 and worked with George Gruntz, with Joachim Kühn, and with Chris Beckers, Herb Geller, Anne Haigis and Kraan until he returned to the United States. As a sideman Gerry has worked with including ones with George Benson, Michał Urbaniak, Urszula Dudziak, Marcus Miller, Lionel Richie, Sonny Fortune, Alphonso Johnson, Roberta Flack, Joe Sample, Tom Harrell, Dave Samuels, and Chuck Loeb, among others.

Drummer Gerry Brown continues to perform and record.

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Dale Bruning was born on November 8, 1934 in Carbondale, Pennsylvania. During the 1940s and 1950s he spent time living, working and recording in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. During his tenure in the United States Navy from 1953-57, he was a guitarist and arranger, but when called upon he also played piano, bass, vibes, and percussion.

Leaving the military in 1957 he studied at Temple University, graduating with a bachelor of arts degree in psychology. He took as many music classes as he could. Concurrently, he studied music and guitar with Dennis Sandole.

1961 saw him as the leader of the house band for The Del Shields Show, a television variety program. In 1964, he and his family moved to Denver. A broken glass accident in 1988 that deeply cut his wrist nearly ended his performing career. Practicing through the pain during the rehabilitative process was rewarded, and Dale has become an even stronger performer.

Equaled by his talent in composing, arranging and educating, during his 65 plus years of private teaching, he has expressed the joy of jazz to more than 1000 students, and has been featured in numerous magazines.

Guitarist, composer, arranger, author and educator Dale Bruning, who lived in Longmont, Colorado from 1994-2017 and now resides in Thornton, Colorado, continues to perform and record.

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Nick Lyons was born in New York City on November 7, 1982. He graduated from Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Oberlin, Ohio, then lived and actively played in the San Francisco Bay Area. Returning to New York he settled in Brooklyn in 2005 and collaborated with pianist and mentor Connie Crothers until her passing in 2016. This had a profound effect on his approach to music and improvisation. His other significant teachers and mentors have included Donald Byrd, Donald Walden, and Gary Bartz.

In 2022 he toured as a solo performer in Denmark and Germany, participated in 2 residencies in France and 1 in the US with the Paris-based group Mobke, appeared on 2 CD releases, “Triple Exposure” under his own name with Gene Perla and John McCutcheon and “Another Spring” with vocalist Cheryl Richards, performed often with bassist Adam Lane’s quartet, performed with pianist Harvey Diamond and bassist Cameron Brown.

In 2020 he joined the improvising ensemble Concerts from Cars which traveled the streets of NYC as a car caravan and performed from the street. They have performed at clubs all over New York. Lyons has been a sideman with William Parker, Sam Ospovat, Adam Caine and Federico Ughi as well as a duet with pianist Carol Liebowitz.

Among the many he has performed with are pianists Connie Crothers and Kazzrie Jaxen; trio with clarinetist Bill Payne and flutist Robert Dick, tenor saxophonist Jimmy Halperin, bassists Michael Bisio, Ken Filiano, Hill Greene, and Ratzo Harris, and drummers Roger Mancuso, Michael Wimberly, Billy Hart, and Billy Mintz.

Nick Lyons, who is an improvising alto saxophonist and composer has earned a reputation among peers for his musical imagination and original approach to playing both standard tunes and pure improvisation.

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Gordon Brisker was born on November 6, 1937 in Cincinnati, Ohio and began on piano as a child. He studied reed instruments at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Before enrolling in the Berklee College of Music he played with Ralph Marterie Following this he worked with Al Belletto, Bill Berry, and Woody Herman.

Moving to New York City he played with Louie Bellson and Gerry Mulligan. After a short time Brisker returned to Cincinnati, then moved to Los Angeles, California where he worked extensively as a studio musician.

From 1983 to 1985, Gordon taught at Berklee College of Music and during this time also arranged for Herb Pomeroy. After 1985 he returned to Los Angeles, recording extensively with Anita O’Day and Bobby Shew among others. He recorded several albums under his own name.

In the 1990s, Brisker moved to Australia and taught at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Tenor saxophonist Gordon Brisker died of pancreatic cancer on September 10, 2004 at the age of 66.

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