Curtis Fowlkes

Curtis Fowlkes
Photo by Bogdan Dimitriu
Photo by Bogdan Dimitriu
Background information
Born(1950-03-19)March 19, 1950
New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedAugust 31, 2023(2023-08-31) (aged 73)
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
GenresJazz, pop, rock
Occupation(s)Musician, singer, composer
Instrument(s)Trombone, voice
Years active1969–2023
LabelsKnitting Factory

Curtis Fowlkes (March 19, 1950 – August 31, 2023) was an American jazz trombonist and singer. He was a founding member of The Jazz Passengers. He had a twin brother James May Fowlkes and his parents were James Ray and Rosa May Fowlkes.[1]

Career[edit]

In 1987, Fowlkes started The Jazz Passengers with saxophonist Roy Nathanson.[2] He was a member of The Lounge Lizards, the Kansas City All-Stars, and a quartet led by jazz guitarist Bill Frisell. He toured with Charlie Haden's Liberation Music Orchestra, as well as the Duke Ellington Orchestra when it was led by drummer Louis Bellson. He released his debut solo album in 1999.[3]

Death[edit]

Curtis Fowlkes died from heart failure in Brooklyn, New York, on August 31, 2023, at the age of 73.[4]

Discography[edit]

As leader[edit]

With The Jazz Passengers

  • Implement Yourself (New World/CounterCurrents 1990)
  • Live at the Knitting Factory (Knitting Factory, 1991)
  • Plain Old Joe (Knitting Factory, 1993)
  • In Love (High Street, 1994)
  • Individually Twisted (32 Records, 1996)
  • Re-United (Justin Time, 2010)
  • Still Life with Trouble (Thirsty Ear, 2017)

With The Lounge Lizards

As sideman[edit]

With Don Byron

  • Nu Blaxploitation (Capitol, 1998)
  • You Are #6 (Blue Note, 2001)
  • Do the Boomerang (Blue Note, 2006)

With Bill Frisell

With Glen Hansard

With Charlie Hunter

With John Lurie

  • Stranger Than Paradise and the Resurrection of Albert Ayler (Attitude/Crammed Discs 1985)
  • Down by Law (Made to Measure/Crammed Discs 1987)
  • Excess Baggage (Prophecy, 1997)

With Roy Nathanson

  • Broken Night Red Light with Roy Nathanson, (Crepuscule, 1988)
  • Deranged and Decomposed with Roy Nathanson (Crepuscule, 1988)
  • Camp Stories (Knitting Factory, 1996)
  • Fire at Keaton's Bar & Grill (Six Degrees, 2000)
  • Sotto Voce (AUM Fidelity, 2006)
  • Subway Moon (Yellowbird, 2009)
  • Nearness and You (Clean Feed, 2016)
  • Complicated Day (Yellowbird/Enja, 2014)

With Roy Nathanson & Nick Hakim

  • Small Things (NYXO, 2021)

With Marc Ribot

With Elliott Sharp

  • Forgery (Intuition, 2007)
  • Spectropia Suite (NEOS, 2010)
  • Sky Road Songs (Yellowbird, 2012)

With others

References[edit]

  1. ^ "James R Foulkes / Census / United States 1950 Census". FamilySearch. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
  2. ^ Huey, Steve. "Jazz Passengers". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  3. ^ Lane, Joslyn. "Curtis Fowlkes". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  4. ^ Chinen, Nate (September 6, 2023). "Curtis Fowlkes, prolific trombonist who co-led The Jazz Passengers, is dead at 73". WRTI. Retrieved September 20, 2023.

External links[edit]