Lucky Thompson
george b.
I recently heard from a knowledgeable source that Lucky Thompson is
homeless and living on the streets of Seattle. Has anyone else heard
anything to this effect?
Given how we lament these greats *after* their passing, it's shameful
that more is not done during their time.
Steve Carmichael
Steve
Jack Woker
george b. wrote:
>
> I recently heard from a knowledgeable source that Lucky Thompson is
> homeless and living on the streets of Seattle. Has anyone else heard
> anything to this effect?
>
> Given how we lament these greats *after* their passing, it's shameful
> that more is not done during their time.
This story has circulated in the jazz community for a few years now, and
does have at least some basis in fact. I've talked to at least three
people who have actually seen Lucky in Seattle, and here, to the best of
my recollection, is what they reported. Drummer Kenny Washington was
playing in Seattle with Johnny Griffin three or four years ago, and
Thompson came down to the gig. Kenny spent a pretty long time with him
after the show, and tried to get Lucky's address for future
correspondence, but Lucky would not (could not?) give him his address.
He told me at the time that Lucky did appear to be possibly homeless,
certainly down on his luck. Another collector friend got a tip about
two or three years ago that Lucky was living in a shack in somebody's
back yard in Seattle. This guy actually found Lucky, and approached
him, but Lucky was very belligerent, demanding that my friend get off
the property, and refusing to acknowledge that he was Lucky Thompson,
although my friend insists that it definitely was Lucky. Another
acquaintance told me that he did see Lucky at some park in Seattle, and
approached him - again Lucky would not acknowledge his identity! I have
since heard that Thompson has begun woodshedding again, so maybe we have
not heard the last from him. Rumors throughout the seventies and later
have had him at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, later supposedly
living somewhere around the Carolinas, very bitter about the music
business. The most recent stories also seem to point to some sort of
mental illness perhaps.
jack
Martin Milgrim
Jack Woker <ste...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
>
>This story has circulated in the jazz community for a few years now, and
>does have at least some basis in fact. I've talked to at least three
>people who have actually seen Lucky in Seattle, and here, to the best of
>my recollection, is what they reported. Drummer Kenny Washington was
>playing in Seattle with Johnny Griffin three or four years ago, and
>Thompson came down to the gig. Kenny spent a pretty long time with him
>after the show, and tried to get Lucky's address for future
>correspondence, but Lucky would not (could not?) give him his address.
>He told me at the time that Lucky did appear to be possibly homeless,
>certainly down on his luck. Another collector friend got a tip about
>two or three years ago that Lucky was living in a shack in somebody's
>back yard in Seattle. This guy actually found Lucky, and approached
>him, but Lucky was very belligerent, demanding that my friend get off
>the property, and refusing to acknowledge that he was Lucky Thompson,
>although my friend insists that it definitely was Lucky. Another
>acquaintance told me that he did see Lucky at some park in Seattle, and
>approached him - again Lucky would not acknowledge his identity! I have
>since heard that Thompson has begun woodshedding again, so maybe we have
>not heard the last from him. Rumors throughout the seventies and later
>have had him at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, later supposedly
>living somewhere around the Carolinas, very bitter about the music
>business. The most recent stories also seem to point to some sort of
>mental illness perhaps.
>
is possibly homeless and mentally disturbed. A terrific player with a
highly individualized sound. I've always sought out his recordings and
prize a great many of them, e.g., the Savoy dates with Bags as well as the
ABC Paramount and Dawn recordings. There's also a wonderful video of he
playing with Bud in Europe back around '60 or so that I love a lot.
Having met Kenny Washington a number of times when I lived in the NYC
area, I know it must have pained him to not establish better contact.
Marty Milgrim
Signature Event Context
In <32A4E3...@erols.com> "george b." <mr...@erols.com> writes:
>
>I recently heard from a knowledgeable source that Lucky Thompson is
>homeless and living on the streets of Seattle. Has anyone else heard
>anything to this effect?
>
>Given how we lament these greats *after* their passing, it's shameful
>that more is not done during their time.
Lucky is here in Seattle. And I just got an interveiw with him and
will appear my little newsletter called _The Jazz Solipsist_.
Hopefully, the title explains itself. For more information just
email at: dr...@ix.netcom.com
Sincelery,
SEC
wepl...@ac.net
On 4 Dec 1996 16:12:09 GMT, dr...@ix.netcom.com(Signature Event
Context) wrote:
So what is the answer...homeless...destitute...comfortable...????
What? Please...it's obvious that a nember of us are interested and
concerned.
Bill Jadlos
Pinehurst NC
John Monroe
On 4 Dec 1996, Martin Milgrim wrote:
> highly individualized sound. I've always sought out his recordings and
> prize a great many of them, e.g., the Savoy dates with Bags as well as the
> ABC Paramount and Dawn recordings. There's also a wonderful video of he
> playing with Bud in Europe back around '60 or so that I love a lot.
> Having met Kenny Washington a number of times when I lived in the NYC
> area, I know it must have pained him to not establish better contact.
While we're appreciating Lucky Thompson, I feel obliged to put in a good
word for "Lucky Strikes" (1964). This is a beautiful album. The opening
"In a Sentimental Mood," one of the most beautiful renditions of this tune
ever committed to wax, changed my life.
John Monroe.
Michael Palmer
Rumors throughout the seventies and later
>have had him at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, later supposedly
>living somewhere around the Carolinas, very bitter about the music
>business. The most recent stories also seem to point to some sort of
>mental illness perhaps.
What a tragic story. One of the all time jazz greats and now this.
Let's hope the story has a happy ending. Hard to give help to people
when they won't take it, though.
From a Lucky Thompson fan from the time he recorded with Dizzy for
Victor in the 40s
Michael Palmer Melbourne, Australia mich...@melbpc.org.au
http://www.geocities.com/BourbonStreet/2508 - A Tribute to Jack Teagarden
"...it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing..."
ne...@pipeline.com
In article
<Pine.GSO.3.95.961204...@morpheus.cis.yale.edu>, John
Monroe <jmo...@pantheon.yale.edu> wrote:
>
> While we're appreciating Lucky Thompson, I feel obliged to put in a good
> word for "Lucky Strikes" (1964).
neato says:
there's also a nice cd on impulse(135) titled-tricotism-...which features
a trio date which is evocative of what giuffre would be doing a little
while later
cheers
all my mistakes were once acts of genius
ne...@pipeline.com
Northwest Folklife
george b. wrote:
>
> I recently heard from a knowledgeable source that Lucky Thompson is
> homeless and living on the streets of Seattle. Has anyone else heard
> anything to this effect?
>
> Given how we lament these greats *after* their passing, it's shameful
> that more is not done during their time.
true a few years ago. Whether this is true now, I can not say. I will
try to find out.
He recently recorded a radio interview with Daniel Brecker for KCMU-FM
here; he might have more recent info. And I saw a recent (less than a
year ago) news report of his attending a performance at Seattle's Jazz
Alley, by, I think, Ahmad Jamal, who dedicated the evening to him. Will
confirm this.
Whether he is playing, I do not know. I promise to get back to you.
JFR
Can you explain the title - i.e. what is a solipsist?
Is it possible to post excerpts or the entire interview here or on the
web somewhere?
In <5847sp$6...@dfw-ixnews6.ix.netcom.com> dr...@ix.netcom.com(Signature
Event Context) writes:
>
>In <32A4E3...@erols.com> "george b." <mr...@erols.com> writes:
>>
>>I recently heard from a knowledgeable source that Lucky Thompson is
>>homeless and living on the streets of Seattle. Has anyone else heard
>>anything to this effect?
>>
>>Given how we lament these greats *after* their passing, it's shameful
>>that more is not done during their time.
>
Michael Palmer
>
>While we're appreciating Lucky Thompson, I feel obliged to put in a good
>word for "Lucky Strikes" (1964). This is a beautiful album. The opening
>"In a Sentimental Mood," one of the most beautiful renditions of this tune
>ever committed to wax, changed my life.
You can add to this Lucky's French recording on LP Swing SW8404 with
the late and great Emmett Berry/Martial Solal and the Henri Renaud 3.
It's all wonderful stuff.
bell...@aol.com
>While we're appreciating Lucky Thompson, I feel obliged to put in a good
>word for "Lucky Strikes" (1964). This is a beautiful album. The opening
>"In a Sentimental Mood," one of the most beautiful renditions of this
tune
>ever committed to wax, changed my life.
Just picked up an original vinyl copy of this session, and it is a beauty.
I do, however, prefer Lucky's tenor work to his soprano. What do the
rest of you think?
~Mike Beller
bell...@aol.com
MediaSeven
Is it true what James Moody says in Down Beat, that Lucky is now an
unlucky fellow living as a homeless person on the streets of Seattle?
john motavalli
Subject: Re: Lucky Thompson
From: bell...@aol.com
Date: 10 Dec 1996 15:02:49 GMT
Message-ID: <19961210150...@ladder01.news.aol.com>
Michael Delceg
I for one greatly admired Thompson's soprano playing with its sound
remeniscent of Desmond's alto style. I hope that he can be persuaded to
play again. Does anyone know what his soprano setup was?
Mike
Merlin Allan Williams
In article <mdelceg-1512...@mdelceg.nelson.planet.org.nz>,
merlin
Richard Bogle
Lucky is not living on the streets in Seattle anymore. He is in a
shelter facility of some sort. Someone in radio in the area interviewed
him and I heard part of it on tape. Its kinda sad. No it's real sad that
a talent like his has deteriorated. One story has it that Stanley
Turrentine found him and offered him a saxophone only to have Lucky
refuse it. I only heard him once live and that was in Portland, Or in
1945 with Helen Humes and Thelonious Monk. What a treat for a 15 year
old.
-
RICHARD BOGLE DMR...@prodigy.com
Merle Clarke
>Lucky is not living on the streets in Seattle anymore. He is in a
>shelter facility of some sort. Someone in radio in the area interviewed
>him and I heard part of it on tape.
Does anyone out there have a copy of this tape? I have been a Lucky fan
for years and I would love to hear reflections on his "former" life.
Even if he is a few baskets short of a picnic...
-
MICHAEL (NYC) GGU...@prodigy.com
Merle Clarke
Marcel-Franck Simon
Michael Palmer (mich...@melbpc.org.au) wrote:
: >
: >While we're appreciating Lucky Thompson, I feel obliged to put in a good
: >word for "Lucky Strikes" (1964). This is a beautiful album. The opening
: >"In a Sentimental Mood," one of the most beautiful renditions of this tune
: >ever committed to wax, changed my life.
: You can add to this Lucky's French recording on LP Swing SW8404 with
: the late and great Emmett Berry/Martial Solal and the Henri Renaud 3.
: It's all wonderful stuff.
Indeed, that is a great record (as is LUCKY STRIKES.) Let me add a plug
for this "beginnings" record below. There is a fair amount of dreck, but
Lucky stands clear and beautiful each time he solos, whether for 8 bars or
3 choruses. And also BROWN ROSE, a later recording on Xanadu; does that label
still exist? I never heard of them converting to LP.
What a beautiful musician.
Records with this Title:
Thompson, Lucky IAJRC 1001 (CD)
Title: The Beginning Years
Recorded: 9/1945, 10/1945, 11/1945, 12/1945, 1946, 3/1947, 5/20/1947,
6/7/1947, 1949 at Various Studios, Los Angeles or Hollywood, CA
Released: 1991
With: Lucky Thompson (leader), Tenor Sax (on all tracks, leader on 5-6 and 17)
Karl George, Trumpet (on 1-4, 5-6, 7, 8-11 and 12-13)
Marshall Royal, Clarinet, Alto Sax (on 1-4)
Bob Mosley (leader), Piano (on leader on 1-4)
Gene Phillips, Guitar (on 1-4)
Charles Mingus, Bass (on 1-4)
Lee Young, Drums (on 1-4)
Marion Abernathy, Vocals (on 1-4, 8-11, 12-13)
J. J. Johnson, Trombone (on 5-6)
Rudy Rutherford, Clarinet (on 5-6)
Bill Doggett, Piano (on 5-6)
Freddie Green, Guitar (on 5-6)
Rodney Richardson, Bass (on 5-6)
Shadow Wilson, Drums (on 5-6)
Jewell Grant, Alto Sax (on 7)
L. Beck, Baritone Sax (on 7)
Wilbert Baranco, Piano (on 7)
Charlie Norris, Guitar (on 7)
Oscar Pettiford (leader), Bass (on 7, leader)
Roy Porter, Drums (on 7)
Estelle Edson (leader), Vocals (on 7, leader)
G. Styles, Piano (on 14)
Frank Davenport (leader), Celeste (on 14)
Al Hendrickson, Guitar (on 14)
Bob Stone, Bass (on 14)
Alvin Stoller, Drums (on 14)
David Allyn (leader), Vocals (on 14 as leader, and on 15-16)
Al Killian, Trumpet (on 15-16)
Lyle Griffin, Trombone (on 15-16)
Hal McKusick, Alto Sax (on 15-16)
Dodo Marmarosa, Piano (on 15-16)
Harry Babasin, Bass (on 15-16)
Eddie Beal (leader), Piano (on 17, leader on 22)
Al Norris, Guitar (on 17)
Charlie Drayton, Bass (on 17)
Stan Levey, Drums (on 17)
Ormond Wilson, Vocal (on 17)
Gene Price, Vocal (on 17)
Rueben Sanders, Vocal (on 17)
Artie Waters, Vocal (on 17)
Shorty Rogers, Trumpet (on 18-20)
Gerald Wilson, Trumpet (on 18-21)
Conrad Gozzo, Trumpet (on 18-19)
John Best, Trumpet (on 18-19)
Dave Wells, Trombone (on 18-19)
Dick Norris, Alto Sax (on 18-19)
Herb Hoise, Alto Sax (on 18-19)
Gordon Reeder, Tenor Sax, Baritone Sax (on 18-19)
Ike Carpenter (leader), Piano (on 18-21)
John Kitzmiller, Bass (on 18-21)
Bob Hummell, Drums (on 18-21)
Corky Corcoran, Tenor Sax (on 20)
Lou Obergh, Trumpet (on 21)
Tommy Pederson, Trombone (on 21)
George Weidler, Alto Sax (on 21)
Ted Wash, Clarinet, Alto Sax (on 21)
Ralph Lee, Tenor Sax (on 21)
Joe Cook, Baritone Sax (on 21)
Barney Kessel, Guitar (on 22)
Irving Ashby, Guitar (on 22)
Red Callender, Bass (on 22)
Edward Hall, Drums (on 22)
Ernie Andrews (leader), Vocal (on 22)
Charlie Shavers, Trumpet (on 23)
Chuck Peterson, Trumpet (on 23)
Frank Beach, Trumpet (on 23)
Si Zentner, Trombone (on 23)
Charles Maxon, Trombone (on 23)
Sidney Harris, Trombone (on 23)
Clint Meagley, Alto Sax, Clarinet (on 23)
Eddie Rosa, Alto Sax, Clarinet (on 23)
Stan Getz, Alto Sax, Tenor Sax (on 23)
Butch Stone, Baritone Sax (on 23)
Jimmy Rowles, Piano (on 23)
Tony Rizzi, Guitar (on 23)
Arnold Fishkin, Bass (on 23)
Don Lamond, Drums (on 23)
Van Alexander (leader), Arranger, Conductor
Contents: 1) Vout Rhythm (Lucky Thompson) ( 02:50)
2) Stormy Mood (Marion Abernathy) ( 03:01)
3) Baggin' The Boogie (Jones) ( 03:09)
4) Bee Boogie Boo (Bob Mosley) ( 02:46)
5) Irresistible You (Paige, Gene DePaul) ( 03:20)
6) Phace (Freddie Green) ( 02:44)
7) Don't Drive This Jive Away (Oscar Pettiford, Estelle ( 02:50)
Edson)
8) Hour Of Parting (Kahn, Spoliansky) ( 02:56)
9) Abernathy's Boogie (Marion Abernathy) ( 02:51)
10) Cherokee (Ray Noble) ( 02:41)
11) Slowin' Down The Blues (Marion Abernathy) ( 02:39)
12) I'm Gonna See My Baby (Phil Moore) ( 03:12)
13) Frantic Blues (Brock) ( 02:54)
14) Snowbound (Griffin, Red Callender) ( 02:54)
15) Flight Of The Vout Bug (Tommy Talbert, Lyle Griffin, ( 03:07)
Dodo Marmarosa)
16) It Shouldn't Happen To A Dream (Duke Ellington, Johnny ( 02:55)
Hodges, George)
17) For You (Al Dubin, Joe Burke) ( 03:02)
18) Things Ain't What They Used To Be (Duke Ellington, ( 02:44)
Johnny Hodges)
19) Jeep's Blues (Duke Ellington, Johnny Hodges) ( 02:59)
20) Day Dream (Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn) ( 02:51)
21) Take The A Train (Billy Strayhorn) ( 02:33)
22) Hickory Dickory Dock ( 02:40)
23) Blue Rhythm Be-bop (Van Alexander, Irving Mills) ( 03:05)
Total: ( 66:43)
Purchased: 1/2/1996
Comments: 1-4 from November 1945 in LA, 5-6 from September 1945 in LA,
7 from October or November 1945 in LA, 8-11 probably from December
1945 in LA, 12-13 probably from December 1945 in LA, 14 from early
1946 in LA, 16-16 from mid to late 1946 in LA, 17 from late 1946
or early 1947 in LA, 18-19 from March 1947 in LA, 20 from April 1947
in Hollywood, 21 from circa 1949 in LA, 22 from June 7, 1947 in LA,
and 23 from May 20, 1947 in LA.
Records with this Title:
Thompson, Lucky Xanadu 204 (LP)
Title: Brown Rose
Recorded: 3/29/1956, 4/17/1956 at Unknown Studios, Paris, France
Released: 1985
With: Lucky Thompson (leader), Tenor Sax
Fernand Verstraete, Trumpet (on 1-6)
Christian Bellest, Trumpet (on 7-12)
Andre Paquinet, Trombone (on 1-6)
Charles Verstraete, Tromnone (on 7-12)
Jo Hrasko, Alto Sax
Marcel Hrasko, Baritone Sax
Martial Solal, Piano
Jean-Pierre Sasson, Guitar
Benoit Quersin, Bass
Dave Pochonet, Drums
Contents: 1) Once Upon A Time ( 02:45)
2) A Sunkissed Rose ( 03:27)
3) A Distant Sound ( 02:55)
4) Portrait of Django ( 03:36)
5) Still Waters ( 02:57)
6) Brown Rose ( 03:02)
7) Quick As A Flash ( 02:34)
8) Angel Eyes (Matt Dennis) ( 03:12)
9) The Parisian Knight ( 02:10)
10) To You Dear One ( 03:08)
11) Street Scene ( 02:55)
12) But Not Tonight ( 03:56)
Total: ( 36:37)
Purchased: No Date
Comments: 1-6 recorded 3/29, 7-12 4/1917
--
Marcel-Franck Simon Hewlett Packard
"Papa Loko, ou se' van, wa pouse'-n ale' Florham Park, NJ
Nou se' papiyon, n'a pote' nouvel bay Agwe'" min...@fpk.hp.com