Jazz Haven

Greater New Haven's Community Resource for Jazz since 1996

Greater New Haven's community
resource for Jazz since 1996!

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Jeff Fuller & Friends | Jazz at the MAC

April 6, 2023 By Craig OConnell

Milford Arts Council (the MAC) welcomes Jeff Fuller & Friends jazz ensemble on Thursday, Apr 6, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $33 to $53 (includes fees), for cabaret-style table seating. The MAC is located at 40 Railroad Ave South, Milford, CT 06460.

An integral part of the Connecticut, New York and international jazz scenes, Fuller has toured worldwide and is one of the most sought-after jazz bassists in Connecticut. Fuller & Friends comprises Darren Litzie on piano and Ben Bilello on drums.

Tagged With: Jazz, Jeff Fuller, Jeff Fuller & Friends, Jeff Fuller Trio

Jeff Fuller & Friends at the Side Door Jazz Club

March 31, 2023 By Craig OConnell

Join bassist Jeff Fuller and his longtime colleagues — Darren Litzie on piano, and Ben Bilello on drums — in a return to the Side Door Jazz Club, recently named “one of the world’s greatest jazz clubs,” and without a doubt Connecticut’s leading jazz venue, located in the historic Old Lyme Inn on Connecticut’s shoreline. Their music is a mix of originals and select standards in a blend of swinging jazz, great arrangements and Latin rhythms.

Tagged With: Jeff Fuller & Friends

Jeff Fuller & Friends

March 31, 2023 By Craig OConnell

Jeff Fuller & Friends

The Side Door Jazz Club

at Old Lyme Inn, 85 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT 06371

Fri, March 31

8:30PM / $20 – $40    Get Tickets

Jeff Fuller – bass
Ben Bilello – drums
Darren Litzie – piano

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.

Fuller’s trio, Jeff Fuller & Friends, features Darren Litzie on piano and Ben Bilello on drums.  The trio has released five CDs featuring their original compositions and their novel arrangements of select jazz standards: The Call From Within (2014), Shoreline Blues (2016), Happenstance (2018),Round & Round (2020), and their latest, 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.

 

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 is currently completing his AfroCuban Suite for the Yale Concert Band. He has been the recipient of multiple commissions from 3-2 Music, Florida International University, Yale University and UConn.  His 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. 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.

Jeff Fuller – bass Ben Bilello – drums Darren Litzie – piano Whether performing on stage and in clubs, teaching jazz and coaching ensembles, or composing and arranging in his home studio, Jeff Fuller brings great joy and a wealth of knowledge and experience to all his musical endeavors.

Visit Website
Watch Video

Fri, March 31

8:30PM / $20 – $40 Get Tickets

Tagged With: "Side Door Jazz Club", Jeff Fuller & Friends

Sunday Jazz Brunch with Jeff Fuller & Friends

January 8, 2023 By Craig OConnell

New! A steady Sunday Jazz Brunch gig is coming to The Lobster Shack, 3 Cosey Beach Avenue, East Haven.  Owners Nick & Arlene Crismale have invited bassist Jeff Fuller to program intimate jazz music on Sunday mornings from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 pm. The place is beautiful, located right on the shoreline, the menu is spectacular ~ and don’t forget the lobster rolls!  Jeff has invited guitarist Gary Grippo to play with him on this date.

Tagged With: Jeff Fuller & Friends

Sunday Jazz Brunch with Jeff Fuller & Friends

December 18, 2022 By Craig OConnell

New! A steady Sunday Jazz Brunch gig is coming to The Lobster Shack, 3 Cosey Beach Avenue, East Haven.  Owners Nick & Arlene Crismale have invited bassist Jeff Fuller to program intimate jazz music on Sunday mornings from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 pm. The place is beautiful, located right on the shoreline, the menu is spectacular ~ and don’t forget the lobster rolls!  Jeff has invited his favorite guitarists to play with him.

11/27 & 12/4 ~ Jeff Fuller with Tony Lombardozzi

12/11 ~ with Gary Grippo

12/18 ~ with Joe Carter

1/8/23 ~ with Gary Grippo

Tagged With: Jeff Fuller & Friends

Sunday Jazz Brunch with Jeff Fuller & Friends

December 11, 2022 By Craig OConnell

New! A steady Sunday Jazz Brunch gig is coming to The Lobster Shack, 3 Cosey Beach Avenue, East Haven.  Owners Nick & Arlene Crismale have invited bassist Jeff Fuller to program intimate jazz music on Sunday mornings from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 pm. The place is beautiful, located right on the shoreline, the menu is spectacular ~ and don’t forget the lobster rolls!  Jeff has invited his favorite guitarists to play with him.

11/27 & 12/4 ~ Jeff Fuller with Tony Lombardozzi

12/11 ~ with Gary Grippo

12/18 ~ with Joe Carter

1/8/23 ~ with Gary Grippo

Tagged With: Jeff Fuller & Friends

Jeff Fuller & Friends

December 9, 2022 By Craig OConnell

This Friday ~ Jeff Fuller & Friends live at Best Video Film & Cultural Center, come hear a great set of jazz standards, a few originals and some Holiday favorites from Charlie Brown’s Christmas.

Friday, December 9th from 7 – 8:30 pm, my trio with Darren Litzie on piano and Ben Bilello on drums will play some great standards and originals ~ and maybe a holiday tune or two! ~  at Best Video Film & Cultural Center, 1842 Whitney Ave., Hamden.  Newly redecorated, this is CT’s greatest listening room!  $10 cover.

Tagged With: Best Video Film & Cultural Center, Jeff Fuller & Friends

Sunday Jazz Brunch with Jeff Fuller & Friends

December 4, 2022 By Craig OConnell

New! A steady Sunday Jazz Brunch gig is coming to The Lobster Shack, 3 Cosey Beach Avenue, East Haven.  Owners Nick & Arlene Crismale have invited bassist Jeff Fuller to program intimate jazz music on Sunday mornings from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 pm. The place is beautiful, located right on the shoreline, the menu is spectacular ~ and don’t forget the lobster rolls!  Jeff has invited his favorite guitarists to play with him.

11/27 & 12/4 ~ Jeff Fuller with Tony Lombardozzi

12/11 ~ with Gary Grippo

12/18 ~ with Joe Carter

1/8/23 ~ with Gary Grippo

Tagged With: Jeff Fuller & Friends

Sunday Jazz Brunch with Jeff Fuller & Friends

November 27, 2022 By Craig OConnell

New! A steady Sunday Jazz Brunch gig is coming to The Lobster Shack, 3 Cosey Beach Avenue, East Haven.  Owners Nick & Arlene Crismale have invited bassist Jeff Fuller to program intimate jazz music on Sunday mornings from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 pm. The place is beautiful, located right on the shoreline, the menu is spectacular ~ and don’t forget the lobster rolls!  Jeff has invited his favorite guitarists to play with him.

11/27 & 12/4 ~ Jeff Fuller with Tony Lombardozzi

12/11 ~ with Gary Grippo

12/18 ~ with Joe Carter

1/8/23 ~ with Gary Grippo

Tagged With: Jeff Fuller & Friends

Jeff Fuller & Friends

April 16, 2022 By Craig OConnell

Jeff Fuller & Friends

The Side Door Jazz Club

at Old Lyme Inn, 85 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT 06371

Visit Website
Watch Video

Sat, April 16,  8:30PM / $40 Get Tickets

Jeff Fuller

“Jeff Fuller and his trio are absolutely “happenin’ ” on his newest recording, “Happenstance”.  Each composition and arrangement is beautifully executed by the trio, with sophistication and modernism.  Fuller’s bass lines, as always, are brilliantly crafted as well as his masterful soloing. Indeed, I thoroughly enjoyed this record! “  ~ Christian Sands, Grammy-Nominated Pianist

Jeff Fuller – bass
Ben Bilello – drums
Darren Litzie – piano

Whether performing on stage and in clubs, teaching jazz and coaching ensembles, or composing and arranging in his home studio, Jeff Fuller brings great joy and a wealth of knowledge and experience to all his musical endeavors.

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 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.

Fuller’s trio, featuring Darren Litzie on piano and Ben Bilello on drums, has released three CDs featuring their original music: The Call From Within (2014), Shoreline Blues (2016), and Happenstance (2018). 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 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 Premier Jazz Ensemble of the Neighborhood Music School.

Visit Website
Watch Video

Sat, April 16

8:30PM / $40 Get Tickets

Tagged With: "Side Door Jazz Club", Jeff Fuller & Friends

Upcoming Events

Sat 03

Cafe Nine Jazz Jam

June 3 @ 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Cafe Nine
New Haven CT
Sun 04

Sunday Brunch with Jeff Fuller

June 4 @ 11:00 am - 1:30 pm
The Lobster Shack
East Haven CT
Sun 04

The Joe Carter Samba Rio Trio

June 4 @ 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
First Congregational Church
Stratford

View More…

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A big THANK YOU to all the amazing musicians who performed during Jazz Week in New Haven's Restaurants, Bars & Venues.

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P.O. Box 3011
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