Los Angeles Music Producer Composer Bill Fulton Fulltone

Bill Fulton Band Press/Reviews

March 23, 2006 - Kirk Silsbee, ValleyBeat: The Bill Fulton Band is known as a fusion outfit but you’ll hear a lot of bebop complexities in its book. The precision horn charts and updated takes on jazz standards like “’Round Midnight” and “There’ll Never Be Another You” attract guests like Ernie Watts from time to time. The Fultonites land at La Ve Lee Tuesday.

June 2005 - Scott Yanow, LA Jazz Scene (Jazz Around Town): Keyboardist Bill Fulton led a very versatile band at La Ve Lee (4/26/05). His septet featured trumpeter Anne King, trombonist Jacques Voyemant, altoist Rick Rossi, the great tenor-saxophonist Ernie Watts, electric bassist Larry Steen, and drummer David Derge. The group was flexible enough to sound like a little big band and could also switch to "R&B-ish" fusion when it fit the song. Fulton's arrangements and electric piano gave the band it's own distinctive personality on several originals (including "The Road Home" and the gospel-ish "New Religion"), Cedar Walton's "Bolivia," and an unusual up-tempo version of "'Round Midnight." Jeff Robinson guested for a couple soulful vocals on Stevie Wonder's "Too High" and "Only so Much Oil." Ranging from straight-ahead jazz to funky jazz, the Bill Fulton Septet put on a well-paced program and showed that they are well worth checking out.

May 31, 2005 - Don Heckman, Los Angeles Times: The bowls are brimming with jazz this year. The Hollywood Bowl and the Playboy Jazz Festival (arriving June 11 and 12) have been an inseparable combination for nearly three decades. Now jazz has arrived at the Rose Bowl as well, as the annual Playboy Jazz free Memorial weekend programs moved into the venerable sports venue......Bill Fulton's mini-big band was bright, brassy, and energetic and veteran saxophonist Ronnie Laws concluded the day with his patented brand of highflying improvisation and irresistible, body-moving rhythms. (more)

Summer 2003 - Scott Yanow, All Music Guide: During this infectious set ("Time"), Bill Fulton switches quite comfortably between electric and acoustic keyboards and between fusion and soulful straightahead jazz. Altoist Brian Scanlon (doubling on tenor) and soprano-saxophonist Tom Buckner make good use of their solo space and Carl Saunders takes a guest flugelhorn solo on “In Your Dreams." Fulton's original songs are consistently catchy, the musicianship of his sidemen is very high and the music makes one feel good without being simplistic. This accessible and expertly constructed set is well worth checking out.

January 1, 2003 - Jim Santella, LA Jazz Scene: Contemporary jazz and a small band make great music when they're given enough freedom to enjoy what's going on. For his first solo recording session Bill Fulton composed all ten smooth songs and plays keyboard. He's surrounded himself with the support of several strong performance units that include: saxophonist Tom Buckner, electric bassist Adam Cohen, drummer Kendall Kay, saxophonist Brian Scanlon, trumpeter Lee Thornburg, saxophonist Mike Nelson, and trumpeter Carl Saunders.....(more)

January 11, 2003 - Todd S. Jenkins, allaboutjazz.com: Keyboardist, composer and arranger Bill Fulton has achieved an amazing coup for contemporary jazz with Time. He has successfully broken the curse that has hung over jazz keyboards since the early 1980s, using excellent arrangements and a tight group of performers to give these combo tracks the sense of a larger ensemble.....(more)

January 2004 - Bob Agnew, LA Jazz Scene: While they wish they could, these musicians can't make a living playing in the clubs. Their reward is the joy they get in doing it. For example, not so long ago (11/12/03) at Borders Books in Thousand Oaks (CA), pianist-composer-arranger Bill Fulton made an appearance with his septet. A really tight, hard-playing little band that even die-hard big band listeners could enjoy. In the groove with leader Fulton was trombonist Nick Lane, Anne King on trumpet and flugelhorn, Glen Berger on tenor saxophone, Rick Rossi on alto sax, Adam Cohen at the bass and Dave Derge at the drums. With a tempo range from fast to moderate, the band did such tunes as "Somewhere in September," "The Land That Time Forgot," "Bolivia," "Girl of the Moment," and "In Your Face." It was a mix of originals and otherwise, and a good combination as might be expected of Fulton, who is also a composer-arranger in one of the animating studios.

May 28 - 30, 2005 - Gloria Ellis, jazzreview.com: Pasadena Summer Fest proves to be one of the best free three day jazz festival in Southern California. On Memorial Day weekend, May 28 thru May 30, 2005, many fans gathered in the spacious Rose Bowl for a great weekend of jazz. There was plenty of room, great food, lots to drink, and many arts and crafts........Keyboardist Bill Fulton and his band brought us back to jazz. Sunday closed out with alto/soprano saxophonist Ronnie Laws and his artistic jazz fusion. (more)
May 28-30, 2005 - Paula Edelstein, Sounds of Timeless Jazz: Pasadena Summer Fest: Born in Pasadena But Enjoyed By All! Each year, over the three-day Memorial Day weekend, The Pasadena Summer Fest serves the community of Pasadena and works on several levels by inviting an array of musicians, artists, and private vendors to build sales, develop networks and to find collaborators.....Sunday's top acts - Odara, Kristin Korb, Bill Fulton Band and Ronnie Laws brought their creative sets full circle with several styles of jazz that ranged from Latin, Great American Songbook vocals, Big Band and Free/bop jazz fusion. (more)

Spring 2003 - Lori Barth, The SCORE (The Society of Composers & Lyricists): Composer Bill Fulton wrote, arranged, and orchestrated this new CD ("Time") for Rhombus Records. These high energy original compositions have some wonderful moments. Fulton's horn arranging especially stands out as one who really understands the horn section and what to do with them on jazz tunes. Good listen if you like the orchestrated jazz ensemble sound.

March 22, 2003 - Bob Snyder (jazz Programmer), WRST-FM 90.3 (Oshkosh, WI): Here is our March playlist [sent to Rhombus Records 3/22/03] with your latest release ["Time" - Rhombus Records] set for play. There aren't too many labels taking a chance on big bands (sic) these days. This one is worth it. I know it's important for a new leader to show off his chops. But a standard or a big band tune would help new listeners determine what this band is all about. This is very contemporary city music. Not a soundtrack, but everything comes from someplace. An artist can't keep it out. The synthesizer is used very well to help create an identity. Thanks for all your support. We look forward to your next release.