Charles Thompson (jazz)

Charles Phillip Thompson ( born March 12, 1918 in Springfield, Ohio ), usually Sir Charles Thompson, is an American jazz pianist, organist and arranger of the bebop and swing.

Thompson began with 10 years professional playing the piano. At age 12, invited him Count Basie one to play on the stage when he played as a pianist Bennie Moten 's band in Colorado Springs with this at a dance event. At that time he also got his nickname " Sir Charles Thompson " ( by Lester Young in the band ), under which he later mostly occurred. In the 1940s he also began to play bebop, took Charlie Parker ( eg, Parker and Gordon on the album " Takin ' off', Apollo, new to Delmark 1992), Dexter Gordon, JC Heard in his own bands, and was 1944/5 in the band of Coleman Hawkins and Howard McGhee.

In his own words, he experienced the incision of the bebop against the swing at that time, especially in the way jazz was presented - it was before, especially dance music, you went to " Jazz " concerts or in clubs afterwards. Was previously a good rhythm important Parker and Dizzy Gillespie played " more notes and faster ", which she called Bebop - for him as a player but these terms were "very, very unimportant." In his interview he gives as direct influences less pianists like Count Basie on (which he calls his " mentor " ) as the saxophonist Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young. Later he played a lot of solo in bars and with different trio under his name.

Thompson was still active as a pianist in 2004. In 2000 he brought the Trio Recordings " Robbins Nest - Live at the Showcase" and 2001 " I Got Rhythm - Live at the Showcase" out (both at Delmark Records) and in 1984 the solo album " Portrait of a Piano". He lives in California.

As a composer, he is the author of jazz standards, " Robbins Nest", the Illinois Jacquet eg interpreted.

Collection

Springfield (Ohio) Colorado Springs, Colorado Mosaic (disambiguation) Integrated Authority File
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