The Opener

by Curtis Fuller

Overview

The Opener is trombonist Curtis Fuller's first album for Blue Note and it is a thoroughly impressive affair. Working with a quintet featuring tenor saxophonist Hank Mobley, pianist Bobby Timmons, bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Art Taylor, Fuller runs through a set of three standards -- "A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening," "Here's to My Lady," "Soon" -- two originals and an Oscar Pettiford-penned calypso. The six songs give Fuller a chance to display his warm, fluid style in all of its variations. "A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening" illustrates that he can be seductive and lyrical on ballads, while the brassy "Hugore" and hard-swinging "Lizzy's Bounce" shows that he can play hard without getting sloppy. His backing musicians are equally impressive; in particular, Mobley's robust playing steals the show. In all, The Opener, along with his three earlier sessions for Prestige and New Jazz, establishes Fuller as one of the most distinctive and original hard bop trombonists of the late '50s. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	04/28/2015
Label:	Blue Note
UPC:	0602537935413
Rank:	60258

Tracks

1. A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening
2. Hugore
3. Oscalypso
4. Here's to My Lady
5. Lizzy's Bounce
6. Soon

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Curtis Fuller   Primary Artist,Trombone
Paul Chambers   Bass
Hank Mobley   Sax (Tenor)
Art Taylor   Drums
Bobby Timmons   Piano

Technical Credits

Oscar Pettiford   Composer
Amanda Wray   Reissue Design
Gordon H. Jee   Reissue Director
Bob Blumenthal   Liner Notes
Curtis Fuller   Composer
Rube Bloom   Composer
Francis Wolff   Cover Photo,Photography
George Gershwin   Composer
Ira Gershwin   Composer
Johnny Mercer   Composer
Rudy Van Gelder   Engineer,Remastering
Michael Cuscuna   Reissue Producer
Harold Adamson   Composer
Alfred Lion   Producer
Jimmy McHugh   Composer