DON THOMPSON Vinyl Records and CDs

... guitarist Jim Hall and the US alto saxophonist Paul Desmond, documented by live recordings there (for which Thompson served as recording engineer) 1976 he began touring with Jim Hall (Japan, the USA and Europe) 1977 led his own quartet on piano at the Laren's International Jazz Festival in Holland 1982-1987 he was concert partner to the celebrated British pianist George Shearing, with whom he played both bass and piano. 1982 began to teach each summer at the Banff CA Jazz Workshop 1983 established the short-lived record label, From Bebop to Now 1984 sole accompanist to Shearing and the singer Mel Tormé on emmy winning 'Top Drawer' 1987 piano in the Dave McMurdo Jazz Orchestra, accompanied Jane Bunnett, Trudy Desmond, and others locally, and taught privately. 1991 led his own quartet(s) playing the vibraphone, appearing at several Canadian jazz festivals 2007 Thompson was commissioned to compose a piece 'Reflections' for Cellist Coenraad Bloemendal and Harpist Erica Goodman for their latest CD recording 2007 he produced one half of a concert for CBC Radio (Canada Live) that which featured featured his Quartet performing his own jazz adaptations of some of the music of J.S. Bach 2007 led an all-star Jazz Quintet in a concert tribute to Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie's Massey Hall Concert, an event which was recorded for subsequent broadcast on JAZZ.FM91 2013 released 'Look for the Silver Lining', with Phil Dwyer, a piano / saxophone duo album. It was nominated for JUNO in 2014 2013 released 'A Little Simple Magic', a duo recording with saxophonist Pat Labarbera 2013 released 'Tranquility on Cornerstone Records' with Neil Swainson Recordings range from the mainstream Secret Love to the relatively avant garde Don Thompson Quartet Live. The albums 'Ed Bickert/Don Thompson' and 'A Beautiful Friendship' won Juno Awards (for best jazz recording) in 1980 and 1985 respectively. Thompson's diverse body of compositions includes: 'Trio '85' (for clarinet, double bass and piano, premiered by James Campbell and others), 'Journey to Skye' (1987, for pipe band, recorded by the 78th Fraser Highlanders), 'Quartet '89' (for four double basses, premiered at NMC by the composer with Joel Quarrington and others), 'Abstract & Dreams' (1989, for jazz and string quartets, recorded by Jim Hall in 1990). His best-known composition is 'Days Gone By', which he has arranged for big band and for symphony orchestra; it has been recorded by Thompson himself, the Boss Brass, a CBC-organized 'All Star Jazz Sextet', Moe Koffman, Pat LaBarbera and, with lyrics added, Jeff Dyer and Arlene Smith. Thompson also has written in the 12-tone idiom for big band, including 'Pluto' (1974), recorded by Koffman, and 'Don't' (1970) and 'Winter Mist' (1987), played as suite by McMurdo. Other Thompson themes have been recorded (with the composer as a participant) by Hall ('Circles'), Koffman ('Mercury', 'Bilbo', 'Wildlife'), McMurdo ('Blues for Jim-San', 'Ghoti'), Doug Riley ('Gandalf', 'Dreams'), and Shearing ('Stratford Stomp'). Thompson has written several pieces in tribute to other musicians - eg, 'For Chris Gage', 'Song for Sonny' [Greenwich], and 'For Scott LaFaro'. Awards: 1979 – JUNO Award for ‘Best Jazz Album’ to Ed Bickert and Don Thompson for Sackville 4005 1984 – JUNO Award for ‘Best Jazz Album’ to Don Thompson for A Beautiful Friendship 1984 – Don Thompson was the sole accompanist to George Shearing and Mel Tormé on Top Drawer, winner of a Grammy Award 1994 – Winner of The Jazz Report Award as ‘Vibraphonist of the Year’ 1994 – Winner of the SOCAN Award for ‘Best Jazz Composition of the Year’ 1995 – Winner of The Jazz Report Award as ‘Vibraphonist of the Year’ 1996 – Winner of The Jazz Repor