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Curtis Fowlkes

Curtis Fowlkes is an American jazz trombonist. In 1987 he founded, together with saxophonist Roy Nathanson, The Jazz Passengers, an eclectic group dedicated to putting entertainment and humor back into jazz. The two had met performing in John Lurie's The Lounge Lizards, a group that shares a similar artistic outlook.

Fowlkes has also performed as a sideman on over 20 jazz and rock CDs. In addition to The Jazz Passengers and Lounge Lizards, he has performed with Charlie Haden's reunited Liberation Music Orchestra in 1996, and with the alumni Ellington Orchestra led by Louie Bellson. He has also performed or recorded with Bill Frisell's quartet, as well as with John Zorn, Marc Ribot, Henry Threadgill, Sheryl Crow, Andy Summers, Cibo Matto, Jeb Loy Nichols, and comedian Harry Shearer. He has also performed with the Kansas City All-Stars, appearing in Robert Altman's 1996 film Kansas City with this group.

With his six-piece band, Catfish Corner, Fowlkes released his first album as leader, entitled Reflect, in 1999.

Curtis recorded with the Charlie Hunter Quintet in 2003 on the album Right Now Move.


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Radio & Podcasts

Curtis Fowlkes + Marike Van Dijk, Aline Homzy, Richard Baratta & More

Read "Curtis Fowlkes + Marike Van Dijk, Aline Homzy, Richard Baratta & More" reviewed by Ludovico Granvassu


A playlist featuring some deliciously new releases along with a celebration of trombonist Curtis Fowlkes who recently passed away at the age of 72. Mr. Fowlkes was universally admired and respected and was someone you always found in bands and projects that mattered. He was also a rare gentleman with a great sense of humor,Happy listening!Playlist Ben Allison “Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill)" 0:00 The Guests “Who Is She (And What Is ...

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Album Review

Charlie Haden / Liberation Music Orchestra: Time/Life:Songs For The Whales And Other Beings

Read "Time/Life:Songs For The Whales And Other Beings" reviewed by Ian Patterson


Formed by bassist Charlie Haden in 1969 to protest America's war in Vietnam/Indochina, the Liberation Music Orchestra has reconvened roughly every ten years to record musical protest in the face of major injustices. Time/Life: Song for the Whales and Other Beings was inspired by concern at global ecological destruction, and to that end the music has a pervasive melancholy colored by the LMO's signature lyricism, and broken up by stirring collective and individual passages. The LMO's personnel has ...

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Album Review

Charlie Haden Liberation Music Orchestra: Time / Life

Read "Time / Life" reviewed by Giuseppe Segala


Due anni dopo la scomparsa di Charlie Haden si pubblica questo ultimo documento della sua Liberation Music Orchestra, un lavoro che il compianto contrabbassista progettò ma che non ebbe modo di portare a compiuta realizzazione. Vessillo del suo impegno civile e umano, l'orchestra era nata nel 1969 raccogliendo una pletora di musicisti straordinari, molti dei quali oggi non sono più con noi: Don Cherry, Gato Barbieri, Dewey Redman, Paul Motian. L'album è forse diverso da quello che sarebbe ...

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Album Review

Charlie Hunter: Gentlemen, I Neglected to Inform You You Will Not Be Getting Paid

Read "Gentlemen, I Neglected to Inform You You Will Not Be Getting Paid" reviewed by John Kelman


As ever, 7-string guitarist Charlie Hunter can be counted on to shake things up every couple of discs. After two trio sets with keyboardist Erik Deutsch, Hunter returns to the horn-driven breadth of Right Now Move (Ropeadope, 2003). On Gentlemen, I Neglected to Inform You You Will Not Be Getting Paid, however, Hunter trades Right Now's unorthodox harmonica/sax/trombone frontline for the equally unusual line-up of two trombones and trumpet. But more than just the line-up has changed.

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Album Review

Matt Steckler: Persiflage

Read "Persiflage" reviewed by Donald Elfman


The dictionary defines “persiflage as “light bantering talk or “a frivolous style of treating a subject. Saxophonist/flutist Matt Steckler's compositional style can seem slangy and almost casual, but repeated listens reveal a depth of color, a true sense of shape, and a brilliant mix of the improvisational and the written.For Persiflage Steckler has found players who know how to stretch the tradition as well as go beyond it. Jazz Passengers trombonist Curtis Fowlkes heads the front line with ...

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Album Review

Matt Steckler: Persiflage

Read "Persiflage" reviewed by AAJ Staff


Matt Steckler is a young saxophonist, flautist, and composer with an edgy saxophone style. Judging from this recording, he's got some provocative ideas. However, he still seems to be developing his craft and his approach. Not to imply that Steckler lacks something technically--rather, to this reviewer he seems unformed, as if he's not certain of his direction, other than the fact that he wants to play jazz.

Steckler gets around the horn reasonably well, yet I find his alto sax ...

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Album Review

Bill Frisell: Unspeakable

Read "Unspeakable" reviewed by John Kelman


Some artists spend an entire lifetime within a narrow genre, honing their skill and working at stretching the boundaries of that style, while others transcend all definitions and labels, creating a music that defies categorization. Such is the case with guitarist Bill Frisell, who over a twenty-five year career has contributed to everything from the Nordic cool of Jan Garbarek's quartet to the downtown edge of John Zorn's Naked City. On his own records he has explored diverse landscapes including ...

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Recording

Motema Music To Release Gathering Light From Oran Etkin, Featuring Ben Allison, Nasheet Waits, Lionel Loueke & Curtis Fowlkes

Motema Music To Release Gathering Light From Oran Etkin, Featuring Ben Allison, Nasheet Waits, Lionel Loueke & Curtis Fowlkes

Source: Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity

Motema Music To Release GATHERING LIGHT From ORAN ETKIN Featuring Ben Allison, Nasheet Waits, Lionel Loueke & Curtis Fowlkes To be released April 8, 2014 US & Europe CD Release tour including NYC CD Release Party at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola at Jazz At Lincoln Center on May 12! Inspired by tours in Indonesia, China, Japan, Israel and Europe, Oran Etkin's brilliant new album, Gathering Light,to be released on Motema Music on April 8, 2014, and featuring Oran Etkin-bass clarinet, Ben ...

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Performance / Tour

Go Home: Ben Goldberg, Charlie Hunter, Scott Amendola, Curtis Fowlkes October Northeast Tour

Go Home: Ben Goldberg, Charlie Hunter, Scott Amendola, Curtis Fowlkes October Northeast Tour

Source: Marshall Lamm Promotions & Public Relations

GO HOME Northeast Tour Ben Goldberg - clarinet Charlie Hunter - seven string guitar Curtis Fowlkes - trombone Scott Amendola - drums GO HOME brings together a unique group of players. Performing Goldberg's unique compositions finds Charlie Hunter and Scott Amendola's rootsy, hard-driving grooves and the astute, lyrical interplay of Curtis Fowlkes and Goldberg. Spacious melody and an incisive feel combine to create a unique and compelling sound. ...

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Gentlemen, I...

Spire Artists
2010

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Persiflage

Innova Recordings
2005

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Unspeakable

Nonesuch Records
2004

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Reflect

Prestige
1999

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Catfish Corner -...

Knitting Factory
1999

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Videos

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