Christmas with Champian Fulton
Birdland315 West 44th Street, New York 10036
Birdland presents Christmas with Champian Fulton, with Fulton leading a quartet for a holiday-titled evening of piano and voice. She is joined by Klas Lindquist on alto saxophone and clarinet, Nathan Francis on bass, and Fukushi Tainaka on drums. The set places Fulton’s singing and piano at the front of a compact jazz-group lineup, with Lindquist bringing both reed voices to the program.
Born in Norman, Oklahoma, in 1985, Fulton has worked as a jazz pianist and vocalist for more than 20 years, released 18 albums as a leader, and performed in more than 25 countries in concert and on television. Her honors include NYC Jazz Record Album of the Year awards in 2018, 2020, and 2023, plus Hot House Magazine’s Pianist and Vocalist of the Year in 2019; she also appears regularly in the Jazz Journalist Awards and DownBeat Rising Star Critics Poll. The Detroit Free Press’s Mark Stryker called her “the most gifted pure Jazz singer of her generation.” The Absolute Sound wrote, “Every song is a work of art in Champian’s hands and voice,” while The New Yorker praised her “galvanizing presence.” The New York Times described her as “a charming young steward of the mainstream Jazz tradition.”
Birdland offers a refined jazz experience in a room where the audience sits at tables close to the stage, allowing every note to reach you clearly. The venue features a full menu with dishes like New Orleans-style gumbo alongside a well-stocked bar, making it easy to enjoy a meal or drinks while listening. Each show is ticketed per set, encouraging focused listening as the music unfolds in roughly 45-minute segments. The club’s walls echo decades of jazz history, having hosted legends and continuing to attract top contemporary artists. Located in Manhattan’s Theater District, the space balances a serious music environment with the energy of a night out, where attentive audiences savor the performances without distraction. Booking ahead is essential, as the club fills quickly for its celebrated lineup.