Doug Hill for the Norman Transcript POP (March 2010)

Champian Fulton (vocals/piano) is one of those kids who old jazz musicians adore. At age 24 she has devoted her professional talents to the most American of our performing arts. Champian genuinely loves the genre and her youthful enthusiasm can be a source of joy for anyone concerned that this music has already seen its best days. Raised in Norman, she’s been living in the Big Apple the last few years advancing her career playing jazz. Champian gigs constantly at venues such as the Clovis Point Winery on Long Island and a regular weekly show in Smoke Jazz and Supper Club on Broadway at 106th. During the holiday season you would have found our Sooner playing in the Empire State Building’s Visitors Center. This is Champian’s third album teamed with Fukushi Tainaka (percussion) and Neal Miner (bass). Her vibrantly crisp vocals bring fresh life to 13 standards including “Say It Isn’t So” and “My Heart Stood Still.” Champian’s playful approach to “I’m Gonna Lock My Heart and Throw Away the Key” is pure fun. Her piano solo on “I’m Confessin’” swings over the moon. The instruments were all recorded acoustically giving the disc an attractively intimate flavor. You expect, but don’t hear cocktail glasses clinking in the background and fans hollering out their appreciation. Find this cool breeze at Amazon, iTunes, CD Baby or champion.net.