EPISODE 39 - Champian Fulton

“Champian is the most gifted pure Jazz singer of her generation” Mark Stryker, Detroit Free Press “a charming young steward of the mainstream Jazz tradition.” Nate Chinen, The New York Times "... a balm for the soul. Champian sounds, always, like she's having the time of her life" ALL ABOUT JAZZ

 

Born in Norman Oklahoma in 1985, Champian is recognized as the “most gifted pure Jazz singer of her generation” (Mark Stryker, the Detroit Free Press). A Jazz pianist and vocalist for more than 20 years, she has released 18 albums as a leader and has performed in more than 25 countries, both in concert and on TV. She has been recognized with numerous awards, including Album of the Year in the NYC Jazz Record (2018, 2020, 2023) and Pianist and Vocalist of the Year (2019) by Hot House Magazine. She regularly appears in both the Jazz Journalist Awards and Downbeats Rising Star Critics Poll.

Champian began her career at the age of 10, performing for Jazz legend and family friend Clark Terry’s 75th Birthday Party. Since then she has appeared on stage with Jazz royalty such as Lou Donaldson, Frank Wess, Scott Hamilton, Nicholas Payton, the WDR Jazz Orchestra, Jeff Hamilton, John Clayton, Buster Williams, Jimmy Cobb and Louis Hayes, who performed with Champian in a tribute to Horace Silver for her senior recital upon graduation from SUNY Purchase in 2006. After moving to New York in 2003, she began performing at Birdland, the Jazz Corner of the World, where she has regularly appeared for over 20 years. In 2023 Champian & Birdland celebrated this longtime friendship with the release of “Meet Me at Birdland'', an album which was hailed as the Best Vocal Album of the year by the NYC Jazz Record.