Walton Arts Center has partnered with jazz pianist and vocalist Champion Fulton to create a new series for the 2026-27 season. Patrons can get a taste of the series when Fulton takes the stage for a preview performance on Thursday, May 7 at 7 pm.
Fulton, at the helm of her captivating trio, will unveil the timeless splendor of the Great American Songbook through her piano and vocals, supported by the impeccable swing of her world-class rhythm section Fukushi Tainaka on drums and Nathan Francis on bass. Expect to hear selections from Fulton’s 21 albums, running the gamut from Gershwin to Wayne Shorter, and featuring tributes to the great vocalists Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Billie Holiday and more. Join us for this glamorous launch, where classic American songcraft meets contemporary swinging jazz.
“Every song is a work of art in Champian’s hands and voice” (The Absolute Sound). Her “galvanizing presence” (The New Yorker) and her alluring musical presentation have made her “a charming young steward of the mainstream jazz tradition” (The New York Times).
Curated by Fulton, The Songbook Salon is a new concert series in Walton Arts Center’s Starr Theater that pays homage to the Great American Songbook performed exclusively by world-class vocalists. Each intimate evening will unfold in an atmosphere of elegance, where notes of Porter, Gershwin, Berlin and Ellington will come alive.
Experience the glamorous allure of classic jazz standards reimagined with passion and poise — an unparalleled celebration of America's artistic legacy. The Songbook Salon will be part of Walton Arts Center’s 2026-27 season, with additional performers and dates announced this summer.
Tickets are on sale now for the Thursday, May 7 performance. Standard all-in ticket prices are $10 - $23. Prices are subject to change. Purchase your tickets now at waltonartscenter.org or by calling 479.443.5600weekdays 10 am – 5 pm.
Support for Walton Arts Center is provided, in part, by the Arkansas Arts Council, an agency of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Walton Arts Center is Arkansas’ largest and busiest performing arts presenter. Each year more than 215,000 people from Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma and beyond attend more than 300 public events at Walton Arts Center, including performances, rehearsals, community gatherings, receptions, weddings and more. Approximately 35,000 students and teachers participate annually in arts learning programs at Walton Arts Center, and almost 250 volunteers donate 28,000 hours of time each year to its operations. Walton Arts Center presents entertainers and artists from around the world including Broadway musicals, renowned dance companies, international artists, up-and-coming jazz musicians and more. As a non-profit organization, Walton Arts Center enjoys the generous support of public sector funding, corporate sponsorship and private donors, allowing audience members to enjoy world-class performances at a great price. To learn more about Walton Arts Center, visit www.waltonartscenter.org.
