A minor blues riff head with that classic Lucky Thompson elegance. Besides the head there's a chorus of rhythmic bass line used as an intro and ending.
A minor blues riff with that elegant simplicity that defines many of Lucky Thompson's blues heads. As is usually the case with Lucky, this one is more than just a head. A second riff chorus, consisting of a rhythmic "walk down" bass line adapted through the changes, is played as an intro and ending. This chorus is doubled in the melody, piano, and bass. On the recording, Lucky plays the intro chorus with the rhythm section; trumpeter Emmett Berry comes in on the head. The horns play unison on the head.
This album was Lucky Thompson's only recording for the Ducretet-Thomson label. Pianist Henri Renaud recorded as a leader for this label in 1957. For another album with Renaud check out "Clifford Brown Sextet", recorded in Paris in 1953.
Saxophonist Lucky Thompson is one of the great treasures of jazz. He was born in Columbia, South Carolina, but was raised in Detroit, Michigan. He played in local groups with Hank Jones, Sonny Stitt and others. In August, 1943, when he was 19, he left Detroit with Lionel Hampton's Orchestra, eventually arriving in New York City. Still a teenager, his first recording date was with Hot Lips Page on March 18, 1944. Later in 1944 he started recording with both Lucky Millinder and Count Basie. Read more...
