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As you can hear from our audio clip, this is a beautiful flowing Curtis Fuller melody and chord progression. Our audio excerpt starts just as Curtis's recording does, right on the melody, which is a 32-measure ABAC form. Fuller's ending to the recorded arrangement is also notated in the lead sheets.
"Mr. L" is titled for Herman Lubinsky, founder and sole owner of Savoy Records from the release of Savoy's first 78 rpm in 1942 until Lubinsky's death in 1974. Curtis's first recording dates, once he arrived in New York in 1957, were for Savoy as a sideman for Yusef Lateef. Later that first year in New York, Lubinsky also gave Curtis a leader date on September 5: "Jazz . . . It's Magic." That date led to more leader dates (we can count at least 6) and many sideman sessions for Savoy. For more history about this session, see our lead sheet The Court and the album.
Transcribed Trombone Solo: Check out our audio excerpt teaser which starts at the beginning of Curtis's two-chorus solo trombone. Treat yourself and get the whole solo, so you can closely examine one of the truly great swinging and lyrical jazz soloists on any instrument. C bass clef edition available.
After J.J. Johnson, Curtis Fuller is likely the most influential modern jazz trombonist. Born in Detroit and raised in an orphanage, he was a relatively late starter: he did not take up the trombone until age 16. But it was not long until he was cutting his teeth with saxophonists in the area like Pepper Adams and Yusef Lateef and guitarist Kenny Burrell, eventually building up his skills enough to move to New York in 1957. Curtis' first recording session, however, was in the previous year, with Pepper and also Detroit's Paul Chambers. This was also Curtis' first session with John Coltrane and Philly Joe Jones (check out High Step). Read more...
