Jazz Articles about Lucky Thompson

Charlie Parker: Birth Of Bebop - Celebrating Bird At 100

by Mark Corroto
August 2, 2020

Let's face it, there is absolutely nothing new to say about the music of Charlie Parker, unless (insert joke here) you happen to be Phil Schaap. Lao Tzu's quote “The flame that burns twice as bright burns half as long" is fitting. John Coltrane was 40 when he died in 1967, Eric Dolphy 36 in 1964, and Clifford Brown died at 25 in 1956. Parker was dead at the age of thirty-five in 1955. His legend has grown larger with ...

Lucky Thompson: New York City (1964-65)

by George Kanzler
June 5, 2009

Eli “Lucky" Thompson should be remembered as one of the premier tenor saxophonists of the bebop/hard bop era, right along with Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane. Before Rollins, he had recorded with piano-less trios; before Coltrane he had taken up, and mastered, the soprano sax. And he appeared on one of Miles Davis' most influential record dates: the sextet session that produced those templates of hard bop, Walkin' and Blue 'N Boogie. But Thompson was labeled as “difficult," easily making ...

Lucky Thompson: Lucky is Back! (Then, So Is Love) & The World Awakes

by George Kanzler
June 8, 2008

Lucky Thompson Lucky is Back! (Then, So Is Love) Rivoli-Fresh Sound 2008 Michael Blake The World Awakes Stunt 2008

Eli “Lucky" Thompson is best known for his tenor sax on Miles Davis Walkin' album in the mid '50s; Thompson applied the big tone and vibrato of Swing tenors like Coleman Hawkins ...

Miles Davis: Walkin'

by Douglas Payne
November 1, 1999

This bop-era classic finds trumpeter Miles Davis (1926-91) leading two groups from two sessions in April 1954: a superb sextet and a compelling quintet. Both groups center on a blue-chip rhythm section consisting of pianist Horace Silver, bassist Percy Heath and drummer Kenny Clarke. But despite the rock solid foundation and substantial decoration these three provide, Walkin' is all about the horn players. Trombonist J.J. Johnson and tenor saxophonist Lucky Thompson (returning to music after the first of ...