When it comes to
british folk music, no bass player comes close to having the influence of
Danny Thompson. A founding member of British folk-pop pioneers
Pentangle,
Thompson's resumé includes work with
Nick Drake,
Elvis Costello,
Donovan,
Sandy Denny,
Eric Clapton,
Richard Thompson,
Marc Bolan,
Heidi Berry,
Tim Buckley,
Kate Bush,
John Martyn,
Rod Stewart,
Sonny Terry,
Josh White, Jr., and
Alexis Korner. His debut solo album, Whatever, released in 1995, was included on a Top Ten list by
The Times of London and was chosen as a pick of the year by The Guardian.
Thompson's earliest musical experiences came as a
jazz bassist. After a brief period with British saxophonist
Tubby Hayes' band, he accepted an invitation to join
Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated in 1964. He remained with the group until leaving, with drummer
Terry Cox, to form the rhythm section of
Pentangle in 1967. Although he released an impressive debut album, The Danny Thompson Trio, the same year, with
jazz saxophonist
Tony Roberts and guitarist
John McLaughlin, he believed that the commercial potential was greater with
Pentangle and committed his services to the group. During the five years that the original
Pentangle was together,
Thompson exceeded his own expectations. Together with
Cox, guitarist/vocalists
Bert Jansch and John Renbourne, and vocalist
Jacqui McShee, he and
Pentangle transformed traditional
british folk music into a popular art form. He eventually tired of playing traditional music, however, telling an interviewer, "there was no reason for me to stay, no incentive, no enthusiasm. We were just continually rehashing old traditional songs." By the time that the original
Pentangle disbanded, in 1972,
Thompson had acquired a reputation as a session musician. In addition to recording with
Donovan,
Cliff Richards, and
Rod Stewart, he worked extensively with British folksingers
Nick Drake and
John Martyn, with whom he shared a passion for alcohol. Managing to kick his addiction, in the late '70s, he continued to work as a studio musician, performing on sessions with
Kate Bush, David Sylvain, and
Talk Talk.
Thompson formed his own band,
Whatever, with saxophonist
Paul Dunmall and guitarist
John Ethridge, in 1987. The following year, he joined with Mali-born kora (21-stringed lute) player
Toumani Diabaté and Spanish
flamenco group Katemah to form a multicultural acoustic group,
Songhai. Although they recorded an impressive debut album, the group didn't perform together again until recording a second album, Songhai 2, in 1994.
Thompson collaborated with
Richard Thompson (no relation) on a duo tour and album, Industry, in 1997. ~ Craig Harris, All Music Guide
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