ABOUT
Whether performing on stage and in clubs, teaching jazz and coaching ensembles in schools, or composing and
arranging in his home studio, Jeff Fuller brings a wealth of experience, joy and spirit to all his musical endeavors.
Jazz Bass
An integral part of the Connecticut, New York and international jazz scenes, Fuller has toured worldwide and recorded with
saxophonists Lou Donaldson and Paquito D’Rivera. He has played with jazz masters from all styles and eras including
such diverse artists as Dizzy Gillespie, Mose Allison, “Papa” Jo Jones, Gerry Mulligan, and Clark Terry. Fuller is one of the
most sought after jazz bassists in Connecticut, and currently leads his own ensembles in many venues. In 2014, he was
presented with the annual Jazz Haven Award, “For all you have done in presenting and preserving the culture and music
of jazz.” Fuller plays a custom-made Upton Concord double bass, and a Ken Smith 6-string bass guitar. Fuller’s trio,
featuring Darren Litzie on piano and Ben Bilello on drums, has released five CDs featuring their original music:
The Call From Within (2014), Shoreline Blues (2016), Happenstance (2018), Round & Round (2020) and Keep Hope Alive (2022)..
Latin Jazz
Fuller has wide experience in both Afro-Cuban and Brazilian music. He has toured with Paquito D’Rivera’s New York/Havana Quintet, the Hilton Ruiz Quintet, Daniel Ponce's Jazzbatá and Orlando “Puntilla” Rios’ Nueva Generación. He composes and arranges for the top salsa group, Irazú, whose CDs have featured soloists Arturo Sandoval and Tata Güines. Fuller's Latin jazz big band and combo arrangements are frequently performed worldwide and are published by 3-2 Music, the predominant distributor of written Latin jazz. He is co-leader of the popular group, Sambeleza, which features singer/pianist Isabella Mendes and guitarist Joe Carter. His earlier Brazilian jazz group, Samba Brasil, was seven-time winner of the "Best Latin" category in the Hartford Advocate Reader’s Poll.
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Composer/educator
Always expanding his compositional repertoire and vocabulary, Fuller has received commissions from both the New Haven and the Hartford Symphony Orchestras and has twice received project grants from the Connecticut Commission on the Arts. He has been the recipient of multiple commissions from 3-2 Music, Florida International University, Yale University and UConn. His latest commission is the "Afro-Cuban Suite," to be premiered by the Yale Concert Band in May, 2023. His 2001 String Quartet was recorded by the Haven String Quartet in 2012. Fuller graduated cum laude from Yale College and received his master’s degree in composition from the Yale School of Music. He has been Ensemble Coach for the Yale School of Music Jazz Initiative since 2016. From 1995 to 2016, Fuller taught composition, jazz theory, and arranged and conducted for the jazz and classical ensembles at ACES-Educational Center for the Arts, New Haven’s arts magnet high school. He also teaches private lessons and conducts and arranges for the outstanding Premier Jazz Ensemble of the Neighborhood Music School.
CONTACT: Jeff Fuller ~ jefffuller@snet.net
Website: www.jefffuller.net
