Curtis Fuller (1934 - May 8, 2021)

(Photo by Lance)

Another one of the all-time greats of modern jazz trombone left us yesterday. Curtis Fuller will be remembered for many recordings, not least of which was his contribution to John Coltrane's Blue Train album on Blue Note.

That was but one of his many great achievements which included the Basie band, The Jazz Messengers as well as a couple of sessions I just happened to catch at the North Sea Jazz Festival in 1983.

One was in Shelly Manne's Sextet alongside Mose Allison and Allen Eager whilst the other was as part of what could have been described as The Trombone Championship of the World but was, in fact, more modestly titled as Trombone Summit.

The contenders, alongside Fuller, were: Vic Dickenson; Al Grey; Albert Mangelsdorff, Julian Priester and Britt Woodman backed by a Dutch rhythm section.

Boy did they go for it! Al Grey rarely finished in second place but he had to holler uncle on this occasion!

In the photo, Curtis Fuller is third from the left of the picture.

He was 86. May he Rest In Peace.

Lance