Sir Charles Thompson in 15 Tracks

Pianist Sir John Thompson could play anything. And he did, from swing and jump blues to bebop and pop, on recording session after recording session. Lester Young dubbed him “Sir" in the early 1940s when they were both performing at Cafe Society in New York. Prez laid the moniker on Thompson to honor his elegant keyboard style, and it stuck. [Photo above of Sir Charles Thompson]

Remarkably, Thompson lived to be 98. I say remarkably because being a jazz musicians from the 1940s on was a life-threatening occupation. Most of your career was spent playing in clubs where smoking was permitted. If you didn't become addicted to tobacco yourself, you inhaled enormous amounts of second-hand smoke. Many artists came down with lung disease or cancer as a result.

Born in 1918, Thompson died in 2016. Because he lived in Japan in much of the 2000s, I wasn't able to interview him. What you need to know about Thompson can be found in his music. But before I launch into my 15 favorite tracks, you can acquire a Sir Charles Thompson discography by reaching out to Malcolm Walker here: [email protected].

Now for the 15 tracks:

Here's Thompson backing Coleman Hawkins on April in Paris in 1945...



Here's Thompson backing Illinois Jacquet on Flying Home in 1945...



Here's Thompson leading Sir Charles and His All Stars on Takin' Off in 1945, with Buck Clayton (tp), Charlie Parker (as), Dexter Gordon (ts), Sir Charles Thompson (p), Danny Barker (g), Jimmy Butts (b) and J.C. Heard (d). Bird and Dex!...



Here's Thompson backing baritone saxophonist Leo Parker on On the House, in 1948...



Here's Thompson leading a trio on Nobility Bebop in 1948...



Here's Thompson live in 1953 at Boston's Storyville club backing the Charlie Parker Quintet, with Herb Pomeroy on trumpet, playing Don't Blame Me...



Here's Thompson backing Buck Clayton on Moten Swing in 1953, featuring Buck Clayton and Joe Newman (tp), Urbie Green and Benny Powell (tb), Lem Davis (as), Julian Dash (ts) ,Charlie Fowlkes (bar), Sir Charles Thompson (p), Freddie Green (g), Walter Page (b) and Jo Jones (d)...



Here's Thompson on a Buck Clayton Jam Session playing Robbins' Nest in 1953 with the same personnel...



Here's Thompson on a great Buck Clayton-led session for singer Frankie Laine called Jazz Spectacular, recording That Old Feeling in 1955. At one point, Laine says on mic, “Oh, it's just like Billy Berg's, Charlie," referring to Billy Berg's jazz club in Los Angeles in the 1940s where Laine appeared with Thompson...



Here's Thompson leading a band with special guest Coleman Hawkins in 1956, recording It's the Talk of the Town...



Here's Thompson on organ recording Cow Cow Boogie in 1961...



Here's the Sir Charles Thompson Trio recording Hey There in 1974, Major Holley on bass and Ed Thigpen on drums...



Here's the Thompson Trio recording Robbins' Nest in 1993, with Lisle Atkinson on bass and Eddie Locke drums...



Here's Thompson recording one of the most beautiful versions of What's New, from 1993...



Here's Thompson with tenor saxophonist Yoshimasa Kasai in 2011 recording Love Is Here to Stay, one of his last recordings...



Bonus: Here's Thompson on the BBC-TV's Jazz 625 in 1964, with bassist Jimmy Woode and drummer Jo Jones...