
Lucky Thompson
Saxophonist Lucky Thompson's unlucky career veered from stardom with the likes of Miles Davis and Stan Kenton in the 1950s to exile and homelessness prior to his death in 2005. Geoffrey Smith recalls the great records he made in his prime.
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Music Played
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Count Basie
Avenue C
Performer: Lucky Thompson. Performer: Buddy Tate. Performer: Dicky Wells. Performer: Edison.- Count Basie Classics 1945 - 1946.
- Classics.
- 1.
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Charlie Parker
Ornithology
Performer: Miles Davis. Performer: Lucky Thompson.- Star Eyes.
- PROPER INTRO.
- 6.
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Miles Davis
Blue 'N' Boogie
Performer: Lucky Thompson. Performer: J.J. Johnson. Performer: Horace Silver. Performer: Percy Heath. Performer: Kenny Clarke.- Walkin'.
- Prestige.
- 2.
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Thelonious Monk
Skippy
Performer: Kenny Dorham. Performer: Lou Donaldson. Performer: Lucky Thompson. Performer: Max Roach. Performer: Nelson Boyd.- The Best of Thelonius Monk.
- Blue Note.
- 16.
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Lucky Thompson
Boppin' The Blues
Performer: Neal Hefti. Performer: Benny Carter. Performer: Barney Kessel. Performer: Dodo Marmarosa.- Classics 1944 - 1947.
- Classics.
- 24.
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Milt Jackson
The Spirit Feel
Performer: Lucky Thompson. Performer: Joe Newman. Performer: Horace Silver. Performer: Oscar Pettiford. Performer: Connie Kay.- Plenty, Plenty Soul.
- Atlantic.
- 5.
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Lucky Thompson
Prey-Loot
Performer: Hank Jones. Performer: Richard Jones. Performer: Connie Kay.- Lucky Strikes.
- Prestige.
- 7.
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Oscar Pettiford
Deep Passion
Performer: Lucky Thompson.- The Oscar Pettiford Orchestra in Hi Fi.
- HMV.
- 2.
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Lucky Thompson
The Plain But The Simple Truth
Performer: Oscar Pettiford. Performer: Skeeter Best.- Lucky Thompson Meets Oscar Pettiford.
- Fresh Sound Records.
- 14.
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Lucky Thompson
Warm Inside
Performer: Martial Solal. Performer: Peter Trunk. Performer: Kenny Clarke.- Lord, Lord, Am I Ever Gonna Know?.
- Candid.
- 7.
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Lucky Thompson
Invitation
Performer: Lucky Thompson.- Lucky Strikes.
- Prestige.
- 8.
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Lucky Thompson
Just One More Chance
Performer: Lucky Thompson.- Classics 1944 - 1947.
- Classics.
- 21.
Lucky Thompson
AVENUE C
Count Basie and His Orchestra
Composer: Buck Clayton
Album Title: Count Basie Classics 1945 - 1946
Label: Classics Catalogue No: 934
Duration: 3:08
Performers: Count Basie, piano; Lucky Thompson, tenor sax; Buddy Tate, tenor sax; Dicky Wells, trombone; Harry Edison, trumpet
ORNITHOLOGY
Charlie Parker Trio
Composers: Parker/Harris
Album Title: A Proper Introduction to Charlie Parker
Label: Proper Catalogue No: CD-2077
Duration: 2:58
Performers: Charlie Parker, sax; Lucky Thompson, tenor sax; Miles Davis, trumpet
BOPPIN' THE BLUES
Lucky Thompson’s Lucky Seven
Composers: Perkins/Griffin
Album Title: Classics 1944 - 1947
Label: Classics Catalogue No: Classics1113
Duration: 2:57
Performers: Lucky Thompson, tenor sax; Neal Hefti, trumpet; Benny Carter, alto sax; Bob Lawson, baritone sax; Barney Kessel, guitar; Dodo Marmarosa, piano; Red Callender, bass; Lee Young, drums.
JUST ONE MORE CHANCE
Lucky Thompson’s Lucky Seven
Composers: Coslow/Johnston
Album Title: Classics 1944 - 1947
Label: Classics Catalogue No: Classics1113
Duration: 3:10
Performers: Lucky Thompson, tenor sax; Benny Carter, alto sax; Bob Lawson, baritone sax; Neal Hefti, trumpet; Dodo Marmarosa, piano; Barney Kessel, guitar; Red Callender, bass; Lee Young, drums.
SKIPPY - THE BLUE NOTE YEARS
Thelonious Monk & Band
Composer: Thelonious Monk
Album Title: The Best of Thelonius Monk
Label: Blue Note Catalogue No: CDP 7-95636 2
Duration: 2:55
Performers: Thelonious Monk, piano; Lucky Thompson, tenor sax; Kenny Dorham, trumpet; Lou Donaldson, alto sax; Nelson Boyd, bass; Max Roach, drums
BLUE ‘N’ BOOGIE
Miles Davis All Stars
Composers: John Gillespie Magee, Frank Paparelli
Album Title: Walkin'
Label: 52nd Street Records Catalogue No: FSST 07
Duration: 8:15
Performers: Miles Davis, trumpet; Lucky Thompson, tenor sax; J.J. Johnson, trombone; Horace Silver, piano; Percy Heath, bass; Kenny Clarke, drums
DEEP PASSION
Oscar Pettiford Orchestra
Composers: Lucky Thompson
Album Title: The Oscar Pettiford Orchestra in Hi Fi
Label: HMV Catalogue No: CLP1171
Duration: 3:33
Performers: Lucky Thompson, tenor sax; Jerome Richardson, tenor sax; Gigi Gryce, alto sax; Danny Bank, baritone sax; Jimmy Cleveland , trombone; Arthur Farmer, Ernie Royal , trumpets; David Amram, Julius Watkins, French horns; Tommy Flanagan, piano; Whitey Mitchell, bass; Osie Johnson, drums
THE PLAIN BUT THE SIMPLE TRUTH
Lucky Thompson & Oscar Pettiford
Composer: Lucky Thompson
Album Title: Lucky Thompson Meets Oscar Pettiford
Label: Fresh Sound Records Catalogue No: FSR CD-424
Duration: 4:43
Performers: Lucky Thompson, tenor sax; Oscar Pettiford, bass; Skeeter Best, guitar; Jimmy Cleveland, trombone; Hank Jones, piano; Osie Johnson, drums
THE SPIRIT FEEL
Milt Jackson and Band
Composers: Milt Jackson
Album Title: Quintet and Sextet with Lucky Thompson
Label: Fresh Sound Catalogue No: FSR CD730
Duration: 4:21
Performers: Milt Jackson, vibes; Lucky Thompson, tenor sax; Joe Newman, trumpet; Horace Silver, piano; Oscar Pettiford, bass; Connie Kay, drums
WARM INSIDE
Lucky Thompson & band
Composer: Lucky Thompson
Album Title: Lord, Lord, Am I Ever Gonna Know?
Label: Candid Catalogue No: 79-035
Duration: 5:09
Performers: Lucky Thompson, tenor sax; Martial Solal, piano; Peter Trunk, bass; Kenny Clarke, drums
PREY-LOOT
Lucky Thompson & Band
Composer: Lucky Thompson
Album Title: Lucky Strikes
Label: Prestige Catalogue No: OJCCD1942
Duration: 4:06
Performers: Lucky Thompson, tenor sax; Hank Jones, piano; Richard Jones, bass; Connie Kay drums.
INVITATION
Lucky Thompson & Band
Composers: Bronislaw Kaper, Michael Gibbs
Album Title: Lucky Strikes
Label: Prestige Catalogue No: OJCCD1942
Duration: 4:51
Performers: Lucky Thompson, tenor sax; Hank Jones, piano; Richard Davis, bass; Connie Kay drums
Broadcasts
- Sun 13 Apr 2014 00:00BBC Radio 3
- Sun 2 Jul 2017 00:00BBC Radio 3
Podcast
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Geoffrey Smith's Jazz
Geoffrey Smith's Jazz - a weekly sequence exploring what makes great jazz great music