When pianist Larry Fuller (photo above) was interviewed in the April Jersey Jazz Magazine about his upcoming Jersey Jazz LIVE! concert in Madison, NJ, he said his goal was to “uplift people with the spirit and energy of swinging.” On Sunday, May 4, in Madison, NJ, he delivered.
In a program that ranged from standards such as Burton Lane’s “Old Devil Moon” and Richard Rodgers’ “It Might As Well Be Spring” to his own “Jane’s Theme” from his 2019 Capri album, Overjoyed, Fuller had the Madison Community Arts Center not just swinging, but rocking, aided by the energetic and joyful playing of bassist Lorin Cohen and drummer Carmen Intorre, Jr.
A sextet from Metuchen High School preceded Fuller and amazed the audience with an explosive performance of Dave Brubeck’s “Blue Rondo a la Turk”. All six of the performers displayed outstanding musicianship and stage presence, but kudos go to pianist Daniel Afkhami for his skillful mastery of this very complex piece. Other selections by the Metuchen sextet included Patrick Bartley’s arrangement of Victor Schertzinger’s “Tangerine”, and Charlie Parker’s “My Little Suede Shoes”. (Photo below, from left: trumpeter Alistair Fawcett, alto saxophonist/leader Caleb Han, and tenor saxophonist Daniel Choi).
LARRY FULLER PHOTO BY MARGUERITE LAFOUNTAINE
METUCHEN SEXTET PHOTO BY SANFORD JOSEPHSON
