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Lucky Thompson

Saxophonist Lucky Thompson's unlucky career veered from stardom with the likes of Miles Davis and Stan Kenton in the 1950s to exile and homelessness prior to his death in 2005. Geoffrey Smith recalls the great records he made in his prime.

1 hour

Last on

Sun 2 Jul 201700:00

Music Played

  • Count Basie

    Avenue C

    Performer: Lucky Thompson. Performer: Buddy Tate. Performer: Dicky Wells. Performer: Edison.
    • Count Basie Classics 1945 - 1946.
    • Classics.
    • 1.
  • Charlie Parker

    Ornithology

    Performer: Miles Davis. Performer: Lucky Thompson.
    • Star Eyes.
    • PROPER INTRO.
    • 6.
  • Miles Davis

    Blue 'N' Boogie

    Performer: Lucky Thompson. Performer: J.J. Johnson. Performer: Horace Silver. Performer: Percy Heath. Performer: Kenny Clarke.
    • Walkin'.
    • Prestige.
    • 2.
  • Thelonious Monk

    Skippy

    Performer: Kenny Dorham. Performer: Lou Donaldson. Performer: Lucky Thompson. Performer: Max Roach. Performer: Nelson Boyd.
    • The Best of Thelonius Monk.
    • Blue Note.
    • 16.
  • Lucky Thompson

    Boppin' The Blues

    Performer: Neal Hefti. Performer: Benny Carter. Performer: Barney Kessel. Performer: Dodo Marmarosa.
    • Classics 1944 - 1947.
    • Classics.
    • 24.
  • Milt Jackson

    The Spirit Feel

    Performer: Lucky Thompson. Performer: Joe Newman. Performer: Horace Silver. Performer: Oscar Pettiford. Performer: Connie Kay.
    • Plenty, Plenty Soul.
    • Atlantic.
    • 5.
  • Lucky Thompson

    Prey-Loot

    Performer: Hank Jones. Performer: Richard Jones. Performer: Connie Kay.
    • Lucky Strikes.
    • Prestige.
    • 7.
  • Oscar Pettiford

    Deep Passion

    Performer: Lucky Thompson.
    • The Oscar Pettiford Orchestra in Hi Fi.
    • HMV.
    • 2.
  • Lucky Thompson

    The Plain But The Simple Truth

    Performer: Oscar Pettiford. Performer: Skeeter Best.
    • Lucky Thompson Meets Oscar Pettiford.
    • Fresh Sound Records.
    • 14.
  • Lucky Thompson

    Warm Inside

    Performer: Martial Solal. Performer: Peter Trunk. Performer: Kenny Clarke.
    • Lord, Lord, Am I Ever Gonna Know?.
    • Candid.
    • 7.
  • Lucky Thompson

    Invitation

    Performer: Lucky Thompson.
    • Lucky Strikes.
    • Prestige.
    • 8.
  • Lucky Thompson

    Just One More Chance

    Performer: Lucky Thompson.
    • Classics 1944 - 1947.
    • Classics.
    • 21.

Lucky Thompson

AVENUE C

Count Basie and His Orchestra

Composer: Buck Clayton

Album Title: Count Basie Classics 1945 - 1946

Label: Classics Catalogue No: 934

Duration: 3:08

Performers: Count Basie, piano; Lucky Thompson, tenor sax; Buddy Tate, tenor sax; Dicky Wells, trombone; Harry Edison, trumpet

ORNITHOLOGY

Charlie Parker Trio

Composers: Parker/Harris

Album Title: A Proper Introduction to Charlie Parker

Label: Proper Catalogue No: CD-2077

Duration: 2:58

Performers: Charlie Parker, sax; Lucky Thompson, tenor sax; Miles Davis, trumpet

BOPPIN' THE BLUES

Lucky Thompson’s Lucky Seven

Composers: Perkins/Griffin

Album Title: Classics 1944 - 1947

Label: Classics Catalogue No: Classics1113

Duration: 2:57

Performers: Lucky Thompson, tenor sax; Neal Hefti, trumpet; Benny Carter, alto sax; Bob Lawson, baritone sax; Barney Kessel, guitar; Dodo Marmarosa, piano; Red Callender, bass; Lee Young, drums.

JUST ONE MORE CHANCE

Lucky Thompson’s Lucky Seven

Composers: Coslow/Johnston

Album Title: Classics 1944 - 1947

Label: Classics Catalogue No: Classics1113

Duration: 3:10

Performers: Lucky Thompson, tenor sax; Benny Carter, alto sax; Bob Lawson, baritone sax; Neal Hefti, trumpet; Dodo Marmarosa, piano; Barney Kessel, guitar; Red Callender, bass; Lee Young, drums.

SKIPPY - THE BLUE NOTE YEARS

Thelonious Monk & Band

Composer: Thelonious Monk

Album Title: The Best of Thelonius Monk

Label: Blue Note Catalogue No: CDP 7-95636 2

Duration: 2:55

Performers: Thelonious Monk, piano; Lucky Thompson, tenor sax; Kenny Dorham, trumpet; Lou Donaldson, alto sax; Nelson Boyd, bass; Max Roach, drums

BLUE ‘N’ BOOGIE

Miles Davis All Stars

Composers: John Gillespie Magee, Frank Paparelli

Album Title: Walkin'

Label: 52nd Street Records Catalogue No: FSST 07

Duration: 8:15

Performers: Miles Davis, trumpet; Lucky Thompson, tenor sax; J.J. Johnson, trombone; Horace Silver, piano; Percy Heath, bass; Kenny Clarke, drums

DEEP PASSION

Oscar Pettiford Orchestra

Composers: Lucky Thompson

Album Title: The Oscar Pettiford Orchestra in Hi Fi

Label: HMV Catalogue No: CLP1171

Duration: 3:33

Performers: Lucky Thompson, tenor sax; Jerome Richardson, tenor sax; Gigi Gryce, alto sax; Danny Bank, baritone sax; Jimmy Cleveland , trombone; Arthur Farmer, Ernie Royal , trumpets; David Amram, Julius Watkins, French horns; Tommy Flanagan, piano; Whitey Mitchell, bass; Osie Johnson, drums

THE PLAIN BUT THE SIMPLE TRUTH

Lucky Thompson & Oscar Pettiford

Composer: Lucky Thompson

Album Title: Lucky Thompson Meets Oscar Pettiford

Label: Fresh Sound Records Catalogue No: FSR CD-424

Duration: 4:43

Performers: Lucky Thompson, tenor sax; Oscar Pettiford, bass; Skeeter Best, guitar; Jimmy Cleveland, trombone; Hank Jones, piano; Osie Johnson, drums

THE SPIRIT FEEL

Milt Jackson and Band

Composers: Milt Jackson

Album Title: Quintet and Sextet with Lucky Thompson

Label: Fresh Sound Catalogue No: FSR CD730

Duration: 4:21

Performers: Milt Jackson, vibes; Lucky Thompson, tenor sax; Joe Newman, trumpet; Horace Silver, piano; Oscar Pettiford, bass; Connie Kay, drums

WARM INSIDE

Lucky Thompson & band

Composer: Lucky Thompson

Album Title: Lord, Lord, Am I Ever Gonna Know?

Label: Candid Catalogue No: 79-035

Duration: 5:09

Performers: Lucky Thompson, tenor sax; Martial Solal, piano; Peter Trunk, bass; Kenny Clarke, drums

PREY-LOOT

Lucky Thompson & Band

Composer: Lucky Thompson

Album Title: Lucky Strikes

Label: Prestige Catalogue No: OJCCD1942

Duration: 4:06

Performers: Lucky Thompson, tenor sax; Hank Jones, piano; Richard Jones, bass; Connie Kay drums. 

INVITATION

Lucky Thompson & Band

Composers: Bronislaw Kaper, Michael Gibbs

Album Title: Lucky Strikes

Label: Prestige Catalogue No: OJCCD1942

Duration: 4:51

Performers: Lucky Thompson, tenor sax; Hank Jones, piano; Richard Davis, bass; Connie Kay drums

Broadcasts

  • Sun 13 Apr 201400:00
  • Sun 2 Jul 201700:00

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