Home   >   Music   >   Lucky Thompson - Lucky in Paris...
Lucky Thompson - Lucky in Paris
Click photo to enlarge

Lucky Thompson - Lucky in Paris

Facts

Lucky in Paris
Music Price: $16.98
As of Jan 9 3:51 EST (details)

Buy from Amazon.co.ukBuy from Amazon.co.uk
Artist(s)Lucky Thompson
StudioHighnote
Release DateMarch 30, 1999
UPC Code632375704520
Buy this item$16.98 at Amazon.com
As of Jan 9 3:51 EST (details)
1 Audio CD, Usually ships in 24 hours, Live
 

About Lucky Thompson - Lucky in Paris

Tenor saxophonist Lucky Thompson might always seem an enigma in the jazz tradition. He came up playing in a pair of promising settings, specifically Charlie Parker's West Coast touring unit and the Count Basie band in the 1940s. Although Thompson recorded throughout the 1950s and 1960s (before slipping quietly into retirement in the early 1970s), he seldom reached the high spots of this 1959 session--which was released originally under drummer Gerard Pochonet's name. Thompson excels here in large part thanks to Algiers-born pianist Martial Solal, whose underaccorded spareness is a paragon of economy and balance. This whole session exudes an ease of communication that speaks to how well players understood Thompson and how well he could converse with an array of talents. He snakes around Solal's weird chord voicings in breathy, curling phrases that shine especially keenly when vibist Michel Hauser is playing. But Thompson makes two exceptional showings with percussionist Gana M'Bow, where he fits his reedy nuggets into the niches between hard-slapped hand drumming. --Andrew Bartlett Amazon.com

Tracks

  1. How About You? - Lucky Thompson, Freed, Ralph
  2. Midnight Sun - Lucky Thompson, Burke, Sonny
  3. Pennies from Heaven - Lucky Thompson, Burke, Johnny
  4. Solitude - Lucky Thompson, Ellington, Duke
  5. Have You Met Miss Jones? - Lucky Thompson, Rodgers, Richard
  6. We'll Be Together Again - Lucky Thompson, Fischer, Carl
  7. Soul Food - Lucky Thompson, Thompson, Lucky
  8. Tea For Two - Lucky Thompson, Caesar, Irving
  9. Ow! - Lucky Thompson, Gillespie, Dizzy
  10. Brother Bob - Lucky Thompson, Thompson, Lucky

Similar CDs

Lucky StrikesLord, Lord, Am I Ever Gonna Know?Lucky Thompson Meets Oscar PettifordJohnny Griffin SextetRue de Seine
Lucky StrikesLord, Lord, Am I Ever Gonna Know?Lucky Thompson Meets Oscar PettifordJohnny Griffin SextetRue de Seine

 

User Reviews

Average user review: 5.0 (3 reviews)

rating: 5 QuoteMagnificent!Quote
Lucky Thompson was one of the finest tenors ever, and it is a pity he is not as widely known now. His life was troubled the last couple decades of his life but this album just shines and glows with all the vibrance and warmth he had before all the bad times. Thompson's playing is lovely and very swinging, but it is Solal's piano that is the real revelation to me. I had never heard of Solal before this album. This album made me a big fan.

Listen to "How About You" and you'll be hooked. My brother is a piano player and he was impressed with Solal's solo on that song. "Wow", he said, "That is difficult." I don't play piano, but I know that Solal's angular style fits perfectly with Thompson here - or maybe it is Thompson fitting in with Solal's style? Either way, these are masterful players and there is not a single wasted moment on this CD.

All the selections here are fine, but my favorites are "How About You", "O.W.", and "Brother Bob". This is one of my top ten and a must have. January 11, 2008

rating: 5 QuoteLucky In ParisQuote
Believe the reviews: Thompson was a great musician. Beautiful music, sadly overlooked. Thank you to HighNote for making this CD available. Five stars. October 1, 2007

rating: 5 QuoteHow did I live without it?Quote
Heard cuts from this album on NPR and came home and ordered it from Amazon. Can't tire of listening to it. October 15, 2002

More reviews at Amazon.com ...