Search - Lucky Thompson :: Lucky in Paris

Lucky in Paris
Lucky Thompson
Lucky in Paris
Genres: Jazz, Pop
 
  •  Track Listings (10) - Disc #1

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 ...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Lucky Thompson
Title: Lucky in Paris
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: HighNote Records
Release Date: 3/30/1999
Album Type: Live
Genres: Jazz, Pop
Style: Bebop
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 632375704520

Synopsis

Amazon.com
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
 

CD Reviews

Magnificent!
Tim Smith | Bonney Lake, WA United States | 01/11/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."
Thompson Got Lucky In Paris!
J. Rich | 02/05/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Let's all face it, Lucky Thompson is an underrated saxophonist. Throughout his life, he was overshadowed by other saxophonists. During the swing era, it was Coleman Hawkins and Ben Webster, during the bebop to modern era, it was Coltrane and Rollins. He was just never appreciated like these other players were and are now. Thompson, in my opinion, was a legend. With the exception of Sidney Bichet, he was one of the first saxophonists to make the soprano saxophone popular.



This 1959 recording is nothing less than amazing. Thompson is joined by Michel Hausser (vibraphone); Martial Solal (piano); Gilbert Gassin (bass); Gerard Pochonet (drums); and Gana M'Bow (percussion). All musicians do a fine job accompanying or soloing.



This is music not to be missed!"
Lucky In Paris
Andrew W. Post | Philadelphia, PA | 10/01/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Believe the reviews: Thompson was a great musician. Beautiful music, sadly overlooked. Thank you to HighNote for making this CD available. Five stars."