R.I.P. Sir Charles Thompson
Yesterday I received the sad news that pianist Sir Charles Thompson – a very important figure during the transition from Swing to Bop – passsed in Japan on June 16 at the proud age of 98.
As a tribute here are two pieces that Thompson recorded with different all star groups for Apollo records ion the mid-fourties. I took them from – warts and clicks included – this nice Vogue 10 inch LP, released in France in the mid-fifties:
From the Crown Propeller collection
First up is Thompson’s “The Street Beat”, originally released on Apollo 759. It was recorded on September 4, 1945, and the band consists of Buck Clayton (tp), Charlie Parker (as), Dexter Gordon (ts), Sir Charles Thompson (p), Danny Barker (g), Jimmy Butts (b) and J.C. Heard (dr).
And here is Thompson’s “Mad Lad” titled thusly for featured baritone saxophonist Leo Parker. This was originally issued on Apollo 773. It was recorded in late summer 1947 and this the band consists of Joe Newman (tp), Bob Dorsey (ts), Leo Parker (bar), Sir Charles Thompson (p), Freddie Green (g), John Simmons (b) and Shadow Wilson (dr.)
Enjoy!
June 19, 2016 at 2:16 pm
thank you for this. Sir Charles Thompson and my uncle Bill Doggett played frequently and recorded 1945-46 in Los Angeles with Johnny Otis, Lucky Thompson and other Bands on the Excelsior 78rpm label. 2016 is The Bill Doggett Centennial year. Visit http://www.billdoggettcentennial.com Sign the Guest Book You can reach me directly info@billdoggettcentennial.com
June 19, 2016 at 2:18 pm
Im Bill Doggett II. Sir Charles and my uncle, Bill “Honky tonk” Doggett were pianists alternating on the recordings on Apollo and Excelsior. They knew each other, I am certain.
On Sun, Jun 19, 2016 at 5:50 AM, Crownpropellers Blog wrote:
> crownpropeller posted: “Yesterday I received the sad news that pianist Sir > Charles Thompson – a very important figure during the transition from Swing > to Bop – passsed in Japan on June 16 at the proud age of 98. As a tribute > here are two pieces that Thompson recorde” >
June 19, 2016 at 9:23 pm
I am stunned to discover that Sir Charles had been alive all this time! I hope his many late decades were enjoyable and relatively trouble-free. There are very few people who played with Bird left.
June 19, 2016 at 9:59 pm
I was stunned for the same reason!
June 19, 2016 at 11:48 pm
Thanks so much for posting these. I really enjoyed them. I did not know that Danny Barker, that giant of New Orleans music, also played this kind of jazz! Learn something new every day!