He Did It His Way. Who Was Lucky Thompson?

[@cameronpfiffner3415]

Lucky was a very profound player, and he captivated me pretty early in my musical journey. I grew up in the era (started playing tenor in 1970) when Coltrane was king and everybody tried to cop his thing, but my father’s record collection (he was born in 1919 and started collecting around 1930, becoming a piano player under the influence of James P. Johnson and Fats Waller) was very extensive and he hipped me to Coleman Hawkins and Pres, Herschel Evans, Dexter etc. I dug the swing feeling and avoided the prevailing trend of imitating Coltrane and, later, Joe Henderson and Michael Brecker, not because I didn’t like them (well, I didn’t care for Brecker very much) but because I didn’t want to sound like everybody else. When I checked out Lucky I immediately heard stuff that I identified with. I still play some of his tunes, like “Tea Time”, a beautiful melody. One of the guys that he influenced very strongly became very prominent in the hard bop era: Benny Golson. There is some Lucky in my playing, and it will be here until I’m not. Thanks for the video.

[@lgoler]

Don’t miss Lucky Strikes, a classic album.

[@isaacj6212]

Lucky Thomson is one of the most important figures in jazz because he's the proverbial 'missing link' that bridges the gap between Lester Young and Charlie Parker. He is the embodiment of 'swing to bop' and was one of the first swing era guys to embrace the new music and navigate those chord changes. It's not bebop per se but it's like it's precursor, it's own thing and it's awsome. The album Trichoticism is an absolute must have recoding for anyone who loves that almost primative, swing to bop sound. I just love Lucky's playing so much and it kills me knowing his life ended the way it did. The man is jazz royalty.

[@BigOnBebop]

Exactly. Thanks for your comments and for watching.

[@hustlaus]

What is the name of that ballad playing in the background?

[@DavidByrdandByrdsofaFeather]

Killer. Also his son Daryl Thompson was a musical genius. He played with Eddie Harris, Gato Barbieri, Peter Tosh and Black Uhuru, among many others , and also toured with Sly and Robbie the last years of his life.

[@badboikyoto3585]

One of the all time underrated tenor sax players, and unfortunately not having a very “lucky” life.

[@AlanSenzaki]

Lucky Strikes!!😮

[@piotrsalamon6212]

He was also very important soprano player i think!

[@BigOnBebop]

Yes. He was.

[@HarrodUla-z7i]

Moore Frank Thompson Michael Taylor Jose

[@davidscher4303]

his soprano playing is next to none. none of that kazoo tone