One Last Goodbye – Eli "Lucky" Thompson

A classic Lucky Thompson ballad. Like many others of his, it is based around B-flat major but visits many other places. In this case, the melody is very elegant but outlines the changes quite clearly. The A section begins harmonically straightforward with a few tritone subs, but modulates to D♭ and B major in the fifth and sixth measures. This relatively rapid stepwise modulation also appears in the bridge, which begins in E♭ and moves twice to G and F. This repetition in the bridge is rare for Lucky's ballads but quite effective. The melody repeats here as well, with a subtle variation: in the second half, the sevenths of G and F rise to the tonic.

We have a melody transcription showing how Lucky played this song on the original recording, for an in-depth look at his iconic ballad style. After playing the head, he solos for a full chorus; next is a piano solo on the bridge, and Lucky returns with the C section melody out. This out C is included in the transcription.

For the other ballad from this album, check out To A Mornin’ Sunrise.

Lucky Thompson made two TV broadcast recordings of One Last Goodbye in 1960. On May 28, he played this song at the Club St. Germain in Paris, again with Martial Solal on piano. The other recording, from Hamburg on November 25, features Lucky in a trio setting with only bass and drums.