Product Review

In late 1962, Eli (Lucky) Thompson returned to New York from France after a five-year absence. His European experience had provided him with a well-defined perspective on life and insight on himself. Three years later, in 1965, he became his own producer and soon did two albums in partnership with the independent label, Rivoli, both of which are included in this CD. It was a new experience for the man who said I chose the road I took. The easiest thing for anyone to do is to sell himself. Today, you even have to stand in line to do that. In the sixties, while most tenorists were aping Coltrane, Lucky was playing Thompson, with unceasing invention and driveand he had an individual sound on soprano as well. Melodically and harmonically, his lines always had a great deal of substance. There is no coastingeverything is meatily inventive.