Chester Thompson - Ebony Jam

This is a version of Ebony Jam by Tower of Power from In The Slot. It has been processed to highlight Chester's playing. He seems to have been influenced a bit by Bruce Conte's guitar playing. He's amazing, I've learned so much about Hammond comping listening to his approach.
At the start of the tune he plays something you might do entirely on Clavinet but he plays clav with the left hand and Hammond with the righ.
At 1:22 and 2:30 he does a nice thing where the 3rd come from the upper percussion manual and the rest of the chord from the lower, this is a really nice tonality.
Notice the wah effect he gets with the drawbars around 3:45.

[@stephenscott4166]

Gotta Love Chester, I Do…!!!

[@TheMisterGriswold]

CT will always be the best of the best. Nobody plays like him. So incredibly original.

[@sticktrik]

He is the most funkiest B3 player!!!

[@alexdrummer2175]

Always loved this song. Have never seen them play it live in the 10 plus times I've seen Power of Power. Chester Thompson is absolutely amazing

[@bloozemc]

amazing doesnt come close...for this band at that time,incredible comes to mind...so funky..so right there..legendary!

[@woody95124]

Chester is one the greatest organ players!

[@Erogyerb52]

The church of SOUL! CT

[@joepjazz]

Amazing Chester gives TOP the best groove

[@normangarrettsr3102]

Hey y'all Lubbock Texas was my hometown. We had an organ player named Earl Day. He and Chester went to the same college in Oklahoma at Langston. I went to see tower of power at a club in a Chicago I'll. I told him about Earl Day whom he was in college with. He didn't give me the time it takes to say hello. I play organ now. And I would love to challenge him and Kick his ass. Great musicians are not necessarily nice. But I was and am loving nice and kind. I never dismissed a fan when I was on the road. I hope he sees this. I smoke you like a brisket, dude.

[@woody95124]

Killer ...Tower was great to have him...

[@michaelellis4940]

Simply Superb.

[@klauskomero]

That groove in Chester's solo is something much more than just playing music extremely well. (after

[@normangarrettsr3102]

I love Chester and forgive him, but I still would love to show him what I learned from him nearly 50 years ago Tower of Power.

[@bascostbudde7614]

Musicians like these deserve to have their performances studied over and over by trainees. Not commenting, not fault finding, not arm chair criticising--just study.

[@sampowellmusic]

great clav playing too

[@davenatale850]

Nice isolation on the b3. It shows how much he added to the whole TOP vibe. When he went to Santana, I'm sure he made a good career decision, but he was made for Tower!

[@Erogyerb52]

I think not only a golden left hand but he plays the petals like they are a bass guitar

[@darrengordon-hill]

Because

[@LOKJazz]

if you listen closely to some of TOP tracks you'll find that Chester plays bass with Rocco or on his own solos this is an example of them switching roles

[@dellfloyd42]

That’s a bad boy,……can you do more like this?