Don "DT" Thompson

Описание: All Star Canadian Jazz Show
Tenor saxophonist Don Thompson not to be confused with the multi-instrumentalist Don Thompson or singer / guitarist Dawn Thomson, died in Vancouver recently after a battle with cancer. Don was born in Drumheller, Alberta on September 19, 1932 as was usually referred to as "D. T.". While still in his teens he could be heard playing in dance bands at Sylvan Lake, a resort area near Edmonton. As a 17 year old he was already promoting jazz in Edmonton in a series of "Jammin' The Blues" concerts. He and his bass playing brother Lloyd then headed East and I first encountered them in Montreal in the early 50s where their exciting playing and organizational skills saw them putting together jam sessions all over the city - often in clubs where jazz was never heard before. They then went on to Toronto and used that as a base of operations. D.T. spent a fair amount of time in the U.S. at this time as leader of a group that featured singer Anne Marie Moss. The last time I got to hear him play was at the after hours "First Floor Club" in Toronto where he worked from 1959 into 1963. From 1960 through '64 he also led a big band backing singer Tommy Ambrose (he later also traveled with Anne Murray) and in 1965-66 he was a member of the Lionel Hampton big band.

The 80s saw a return to jazz, working "George's Spaghetti House" in Toronto every New Year's Eve week from 1980-1990. In the 90s he moved to Vancouver. He left a rather sparse discography. In 1961 he did a session with Tommy Ambrose and also recorded as a member of the Pat Riccio big band in Ottawa. In 1963, Emanon Jazz Society member, Abby Smollan recorded Don for the Dash label, a single, "Early Autumn" and "If I Had My Way" with a group including pianist Wray Downes and valve trombonist Rob McConnell. That year his quintet, including trombonist Butch Watanabe, was seen in the 27 minute NFB film "Toronto Jazz" and in 1967 he was heard in "Citerama", a 6 minute film which was shown daily at Montreal's Expo 67 (World's Fair). With music, "Citerama" and "Expo Session 67", written by Norman Symonds, it featured D.T. with a quintet led by trumpeter Fred Stone and was released on record as well. In 1979 he recorded behind singer Doug Mallory on a session that included Dour Riley on piano and in 1983 he finally did an lp of his own "Blueprint" that featured U.S. organist Jimmy McGriff disguised as "Jimmy McOrgan".