Lucky Strikes Again

Lucky Thompson proved to be a sophisticated composer and arranger in the mold of Tadd Dameron during the height of the bop era, along with his skills as a tenor and soprano saxophonist. Yet he was often overlooked during his career and his premature retirement from jazz in the early '70s has caused his work to be unjustly neglected. Chris Byars, who also plays both tenor and soprano, transcribed a number of Thompson's recordings (including some obscurities) for this project, often expanding them from mere fragments or songs scored for smaller groups. Both veterans and up-and-coming players take part: trumpeter Scott Wendholt, trombonist John Mosca, alto saxophonist Zaid Nasser, baritone saxophonist Mark Lopeman, pianist Sacha Perry, bassist Ari Roland, and drummer Stefan Schatz. The hip blues "Old Reliable" has swinging ensembles and a Paul Chambers-flavored arco solo by Roland. Byars' lush tenor is backed by a cool backdrop of brass and reeds in "Passionately Yours." It's hard not to tap one's foot along with "Could I Meet You Later?," in which the brass and reed sections engage in cool interplay. There are also two originals. Byars contributed "Minik Koosh" (Turkish for "Little Bird"), which sounds as if Thompson could have written it. Lopeman penned the breezy "Tiptop" (a reworking of the standard "You're the Top") and is the featured soloist as well. This rewarding tribute to Lucky Thompson should encourage listeners to investigate his recorded legacy.