Bill Fulton About 12:00am Album

Bill Fulton About 12:00am album is a 2009 jazz recording featuring Fulton as producer, composer, arranger, orchestrator, pianist and keyboardist. The nine-track album combines original compositions with new arrangements of jazz standards by Thelonious Monk and Cedar Walton. Fulton created the project around a flexible small ensemble that could deliver the color and power of a much larger jazz orchestra.

The recording features an extensive group of Los Angeles jazz musicians, including Ernie Watts, Eric Marienthal, Katisse Buckingham, Scott Martin, Rick Rossi, Stan Martin, Anne King, Andy Martin, Andrew Lippman, Mike Miller, Mark Chosak, Adam Cohen, David Enos, Gary Novak, David Derge and Kevin Ricard. Vocalist Jeff Robinson also appears on “Straight No Chaser.”

A Little Big Band Approach

Fulton conceived About 12:00am around the sound and flexibility of an octet. He had long enjoyed the process of writing an arrangement and then hearing musicians bring it to life. Therefore, this album gave him an opportunity to combine composing, arranging, orchestration and live performance in one project.

The instrumentation changes slightly from track to track. However, the basic concept combines saxophones, trumpet, trombone and rhythm section. As a result, the arrangements can create the impact of a big band without requiring a full traditional jazz orchestra.

Fulton also wanted the recording to retain the interaction of a live ensemble. Consequently, overdubbing was kept to a minimum. The musicians performed the arrangements much as the Bill Fulton Band performed them live.

About 12:00am Track List

Shizzle Dizzle – 6:39
Somewhere in September – 7:26
Bolivia – 5:51
Girl of the Moment – 6:30
Straight No Chaser – 5:13
Nighthawks – 5:26
About 12:00am – 7:04
Lights – 6:14
Sleeps with the Dishes – 6:00

Original Compositions and Jazz Standards

Several selections showcase Fulton’s original writing. “Shizzle Dizzle,” “Somewhere in September,” “Girl of the Moment,” “Nighthawks,” “Lights” and “Sleeps with the Dishes” are Fulton compositions. Together, they explore different sides of his jazz writing while retaining the album’s distinctive ensemble sound.

In addition, Fulton arranged Cedar Walton’s “Bolivia” and two compositions associated with Thelonious Monk: “Straight No Chaser” and “’Round Midnight.” Fulton retitled his arrangement of “’Round Midnight” as “About 12:00am,” which also became the title of the album.

The title arrangement begins with a more exposed piano setting before moving into a contemporary Latin and jazz-fusion treatment. It demonstrates the central idea behind the album: respecting familiar jazz material while giving the composition a new orchestral identity.

Featured Musicians

The sessions brought together several notable soloists. Eric Marienthal plays alto saxophone on “Shizzle Dizzle” and soprano saxophone on “Girl of the Moment.” Ernie Watts appears on tenor saxophone on several tracks. Katisse Buckingham performs alto saxophone and flute, while Rick Rossi and Scott Martin contribute additional saxophone parts.

The brass section includes Stan Martin and Anne King on trumpet, along with Andy Martin and Andrew Lippman on trombone. Guitarists Mike Miller and Mark Chosak appear throughout the album. The rhythm section also includes bassists Adam Cohen and David Enos, drummers Gary Novak and David Derge, and percussionist Kevin Ricard.

Fulton performs piano or keyboards throughout the project. In addition, he shaped the overall sound as producer, arranger and orchestrator.

Recording and Production

Andy Waterman and Ashburn Miller recorded much of the album at Entourage Studios in North Hollywood, California. Dennis Moody and Bill Fulton recorded tracks 1, 4 and 6 at Dennis Moody Studios in Los Angeles.

Dennis Moody and Fulton mixed the album at Dennis Moody Studios. Eddie Schreyer mastered the finished recording at Oasis Mastering in North Hollywood. Marcin Spatzer provided the photography, with Joseph Umbro assisting, while Jack Frisch handled the art direction and design.

From the Recording to the Bandstand

The arrangements on About 12:00am were created as practical performance charts rather than studio-only orchestrations. Fulton designed them for the Bill Fulton Band and for ensembles that want the range of colors associated with a larger jazz group while using fewer musicians.

Many of these arrangements remain available as Bill Fulton little big band charts. The collection includes music from About 12:00am as well as other compositions and arrangements written for flexible jazz ensembles.

You can also explore the complete Bill Fulton discography and album credits for additional recordings as a composer, arranger, producer and keyboardist.

Recognition for Music from About 12:00am

The music continued to receive attention after the album’s release. “About 12:00am,” Fulton’s arrangement of “’Round Midnight,” received a Hollywood Music in Media Awards nomination in the jazz category in 2010. “Shizzle Dizzle” received another jazz-category nomination in 2011.

For additional information about Bill Fulton’s recordings and career, visit his All About Jazz artist profile. The About 12:00am release and individual tracks can also be found through major digital music services.

About Bill Fulton

Bill Fulton is a composer, arranger, orchestrator and pianist whose work spans jazz recording, live performance, television and film. About 12:00am represents the intersection of several parts of that work: original composition, jazz arranging, ensemble orchestration, keyboard performance and record production.

Above all, the album documents the sound of Fulton’s small jazz ensemble arrangements as performed by a group of accomplished Los Angeles musicians. The result combines the immediacy of a live jazz group with the wider instrumental palette of a larger ensemble.

Year: 2009
Role: producer, composer, arranger, keyboardist
Album: About 12:00am
Title: Shizzle Dizzle, Somewhere in September, Bolivia, Girl of the Moment, Straight No Chaser, Nighthawks, About 12:00am, Lights, Sleeps with the Dishes
Artist: Bill Fulton
Release label: Fulltone Music
Purchase links: Bill Fulton Music, Amazon, CD Universe, iTunes

Bill Fulton producer, composer, arranger, keyboardist – “About 12:00am”