The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Poli Club jazz series continues in May
WATERBURY — The Palace Theater Poli Club celebrates 10 years of jazz performances with the Champian Fulton Trio May 19.
According to the Palace, Fulton was the first artist to perform in the long-running series in 2013. The series originally began in the fall of 2012 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Southbury.
When the hotel venue became unavailable, Jen Zembruski of the Palace Theater offered the Poli Club to NewEngland Arts & Entertainment for a three-showtrial run.
The first three shows featured Champian Fulton, the Albert Rivera Organ Trio, and the Matt DeChamplain Trio. During intermission at the second show, Zembruski decided she liked what she saw and told NEAE to book shows for the rest of the year.
The series has welcomed Jane Monheit, John Pizzarelli, Les Paul’s Trio, Jay Geils, Chris Brubeck, Ann Hampton Callaway, Cheryl Bentyne of Manhattan Transfer, Melissa Newman, James Montgomery, and Jaimoe from the Allman Brothers. Many local artists are featured here as well. NEAE is working in collaboration with the Litchfield Jazz Festival, presenting shows that are live streamed as well from The Poli Club.
Born in Oklahoma, Champian Fulton is considered one of the most gifted pure jazz musicians of her generation.
She grew up with music in the home; her mother and father ( Jazz trumpeter and educator Stephen
Fulton) recognized her fascination with music at an early age. The presence of her father’s musician friends, including Clark Terry and Major Holley, inspired her focus on Jazz.
Her first paid musical engagement was with her own band at Clark Terry’s 75th Birthday Party; she was 10 years old. Since then, her piano and voice skills have been recognized by peers and critics as distinctive and sophisticated.
Showtimes are 7 and 9 p.m.; doors and the bar open at 6:15 p.m.
Tickets are available at the Palace Theater Box Office at 203-3462000 or online at PalaceTheaterCT.org .
The complete schedule and formation is available www.neaae.com inat