Saxophonist Tia Fuller to Release 3rd Album, “Angelic Warrior” | LISTEN TO STREAMING TRACKS!

Tia Fuller’s third release on Mack Avenue Records, Angelic Warrior,
marks her deep-rooted evolution as an instrumentalist, composer and
bandleader. After five years in Beyoncé’s band, the pop diva’s
attention to detail in the studio rubbed off on Fuller. She has since
developed a heightened focus in the editing, mixing and mastering
process of Angelic Warrior,
as the producer. And as the Assistant Musical Director for Esperanza
Spalding’s Radio Music Society touring band, Fuller applies her pop and
jazz chops on behalf of some of the hottest artists in music today.

On Angelic Warrior,
Fuller makes an aesthetic statement that’s fully her own. The album
celebrates the peaceful demeanor of the ‘angel’ and the drive and
determination of the ‘warrior’ spirit within. Fuller says, “While
writing this album, I was balancing different aspects in my life and
career…trying to pull from the ‘warrior’ energy, while remaining
graceful in my spirit. We can all celebrate the Angelic Warrior within ourselves by trusting in our vision, doing the work and maintaining a level of peace.” In addition, Angelic Warrior pays
homage to the angels in Fuller’s life: her family and friends. “I
wanted to celebrate core individuals who serve as pillars of
inspiration,” she says.

A shift in the texture of Fuller’s front-line on Angelic Warrior is
further evidence of her expansion as an artist. Instead of sharing the
front-line with trumpet, this time it is with John Patitucci on piccolo
bass (which can easily be mistaken for guitar).

“It
was an exciting challenge for me, because I was expanding upon a new
concept to utilize the electric bass as both a melodic and harmonic
voice…playing contrapuntal lines with me,” Fuller states. Patitucci’s
virtuosity and versatility is heard throughout, such as on “Royston
Rumble” where he plays both melody and bass lines.

The
piano and drum chairs are held by Fuller’s sister Shamie Royston, and
her brother-in-law Rudy Royston respectively, both to whom the first
number “Royston’s Rumble” is dedicated. Fuller calls the opening part of
the song a “beautiful duel.” She considers them role models because
they set an example of work ethic and perseverance in the course of a
marriage approaching two decades-“I wanted to celebrate their
unconditional love for each other.”

Drummer
Ralph Peterson, Jr. is the inspiration for “Ralphie’s Groove,” a sultry
song with a sexy beat derived from Peterson’s “Surrender,” itself
inspired by a creative synthesis of Ahmad Jamal’s “Poinciana” and Tony
Williams’ “Sister Cheryl.”

The album’s third track, “Angelic Warrior” is inspired by elements of Terri Lyne Carrington’s GRAMMY® Award- winning recording, The Mosaic Project and
the Beatles’ “Blackbird.” On the title track, the melody line on
soprano soars as the drums play a military beat-Fuller “wanted to
sonically portray the ‘angel’ in the melody and evolve to the ‘warrior’
element, reflecting the feeling of going to war. On a daily basis, we,
as people, deal with so many things that require us to tap into that
warrior spirit.” Carrington is the inspiration for this song, “She
encompasses the graceful, yet warrior spirit, who has blazed the pathway
for many musicians and female instrumentalists,” Fuller says.

Carrington
explains, “From playing with great horn players like Wayne Shorter and
Stan Getz, I just wanted to help and encourage her. I fell in love with
Tia’s playing. She has a lot of respect for the history of the music and
has done her homework.”

“Lil’
Les,” composed at the request of Leslie Browder, is a calming song that
evokes the innocence of a children’s tune. Fuller conceived it for
Browder’s then-unborn child, Lesleigh Marie Browder. “This song was
actually the first that I wrote for the album. As a ‘toy playing’ theme
for Lesleigh.”

Fuller’s
father would call for “Body and Soul” when they’d gig together back in
Colorado, her birthplace. “Here I’m paying homage to my mom and dad, the
body and soul of the family. I wanted to incorporate a solid bass line
to represent my father [bassist Fred Fuller] and feature master
vocalist, Dianne Reeves, to celebrate my mother [vocalist Elthopia
Fuller]. What a dream come true to have Dianne featured on this
arrangement.”

Fuller
wrote her originals over a period of five months while on the road. For
example, she sang the melody and bass line of “Descend to Barbados”
into her voicemail when about to touch down in Barbados. Dedicated to
good friend Mimi Jones, Fuller states, “Having come from Barbadian
parents, Mimi has ‘Descended from Barbados,’ and serves as the ultimate
groove master.”

Structurally,
“Ode to Be” is at the midpoint and end of the recording. Musically, she
says, it’s “a musical pause, allowing the album to breathe. The title
has a dual meaning: an ode to Beyoncé spurred by a song she sang in a
dream, and an ode to just ‘being’.”

“So
In Love With All of You” is felicitous melding of two Cole Porter
compositions. Carrington’s arrangement, reminiscent of Thelonious Monk’s
“Evidence,” inspirits the intro to this Porter tribute. The sax, bass
and drum trio allows the longtime musical kinship between Carrington and
Patitucci (having both played with Wayne Shorter) to be explored
further. Fuller improvises on top of Carrington’s cymbals like a surfer
riding a wave as Patitucci provides a rhythmic and harmonic seabed.

“Tailor
Made” is a rock-out backbeat tune Fuller penned for lifelong friend, Ed
Legin. “We always talk about how you have to tailor-make your life for
you. He loves R&B from the ’70s.” What better way to pay nostalgic
homage to R&B than with a head-bopping groove inspired by another
good friend, Esperanza Spalding and her song “Winter Sun.” The short
ballad “Core of Me” is a “celebration of the self, coming to a place of
reflection and being comfortable in your own skin. Embracing who you
are.” “Simpli-City” begins basic, with sweet swing. Then urban
complications enter, thus capturing the “duality: simple vs.
complicated.” For “Cherokee,” Carrington’s crafty arrangement grounds
the rhythm in a hybrid jungle beat. “Terri Lyne and Rudy were playing
simultaneously with this version. Two drummers plus a drum track!
Merging the experience of house music meets jazz tradition,” reflects
Fuller.

Of
Fuller’s saxophone performance, Carrington says: “She plays with the
kind of aggression that men do. My dad says, Tia’s a woman playing that
horn like it’s supposed to be played. He’s old-school. I understood what
he meant.” You will too when hearing the searing bite and
intelligence-grounded-in-feeling of Fuller’s alto and soprano sax. On
alto, she’s like a warrior-her fire and punch, as well as rhythmic
freedom and drive are obvious to listeners. Furthermore, her soulful
soprano sax styling is the angelic voice in her sound spectrum.

Fuller’s aesthetic statement on Angelic Warrior is
grounded in a jazz mode of expression that embraces both the classic
and the contemporary sounds surrounding her. It’s no mistake that
artists from Ralph Peterson, Jr. and Esperanza Spalding to Terri Lyne
Carrington and Beyoncé include her instrumental voice and vision in
their work. With this recording, Tia Fuller surfaces
clearly, rising to the top of her generation of musicians. Fusing
traditions, styles, and unafraid of genre boundaries, Fuller’s music
transgresses the musical frontiers of today, manifest to last well into
the future.  

Angelic Warrior – Track Listing/Personnel