An important transitional figure, Afro-American tenor/soprano saxophonist Lucky Thompson "connected the swing era to the more cerebral and complex bebop style. His sophisticated approach to the tenor saxophone built off that of Don Byas and Coleman Hawkins (NY Times). Thompson recorded with the likes of Bird, Miles, and Monk, and had a slew of albums under his own name. The accompanying hand-picked musicians includes organist Ingfried Hoffmann, known for his work with German star Klaus Doldinger, and percussionist/vibraphonist Sadi, who worked with Django Reinhardt, Don Byas, and Martial Solal. They fit hand-in-glove with Lucky’s musical conception. This 1969 gem sparkles with five Thompson compositions and two standards. The name of Lucky’s favorite park when he lived in Lausanne, Switzerland, Sauvabelin features extraverted tenor, guitar and organ solos over a high-flying rhythm section with Sadi on congas. Lady Gail features Lucky on soprano, an instrument he had mastered before Coltrane made it popular. Sadi switches to vibes as the piece swings along with a laid-back joy. Thompson stays on Soprano on the beautiful ballad Street of Dreams as well as his hip jazz waltz Soul City. The band plays a sublimely relaxed version of the standard Easy Living, then Lucky switches back to tenor played with a warm, breathy vibrato for his intimate ballad I Came From Sunday; Centre Ville gets straight to the heart of the matter with outstanding organ and tenor solos. Although an influential and popular player during his lifetime, Lucky never received the recognition his play and compositions deserved. This album helps to remedy that.
