Ida James, Herb Lance, Dick Vance (ldr), Dick Vance (t), George Dorsey (as), Lucky Thompson (ts), Andrew Brown (bar), Sammy Benskin (p), Al Hall (b), Jimmy Crawford (d), Ida James, Herb Lance (v)

Ida James (ldr) on c-d, (v) on c-d; Herb Lance (ldr) on a-b, (v) on a-b.

The Tony Williams Lucky Thompson discography as well as the Lord and Bruyninckx discographies all incorrectly give the catalog number for the issue of tracks c and d as 38267 which was actually a release by Happy Johnson and the Jive Five. See: Columbia 38000-38500 series; Columbia 39000-39500 series.


Only track c has been auditioned and there are no soloists on it other than Ida James.

Count Basie (ldr), Bobby Mitchell, Al Porcino, Clark Terry, Lamar Wright, Jr. (t), Leon Comegys, Matthew Gee, Booty Wood (tb), Reuben Phillips, Marshal Royal (as), Wardell Gray, Lucky Thompson (ts), Charles Fowlkes (bar), Freddie Green (g), Count Basie (p, cel), Jimmy Lewis (b), Gus Johnson (d)

Count Basie (cel) on a.

Bette McLaurin, Eddie Wilcox (ldr), Andrew 'Fats' Ford, Taft Jordan, Abdul 'Chiefie' Salam (t), Elmer Crumbley, Clarence Johnson (tb), Jackie Fields, Dave McRae (as), Freddie Mitchell, Lucky Thompson (ts), Eddie Wilcox (p), Aaron Bell (b), Osie Johnson (d), Bette McLaurin (v)

Bette McLaurin (v) on a.

Although the Lord and Bruyninckx discographies as well as the liner notes to Official 6045 give June 5, 1951 as the recording date of this session, the Tony Williams, Dieter Salemann and Bob Weir Lucky Thompson discographies all give the date as June 5, 1950. But Eddie Wilcox did not sign with the Derby label until June 1951. Lucky Thompson does not solo on track a. There is a tenor saxophone solo on track b but probably by Freddie Mitchell and not Thompson.

Master No. D 753 was also assigned to "Please Come To Mama" from a 1951 Freddie Mitchell session for Derby. It is not known if a track assigned D 752 was recorded at this session.

Harry 'Hot Lips' Johnson (ldr), Frank Galbreath (t), Bernie Peacock (as), Harry 'Hot Lips' Johnson (ts, v), Lucky Thompson (ts), Numa 'Pee Wee' Moore (bar), Howard Biggs (p), Aaron Bell (b), Ed Shaughnessy (d), The Winky Dinks (bkv), Melvin Moore (v)

The Winky Dinks (bkv) on c; Harry 'Hot Lips' Johnson (v) on c; Melvin Moore (v) on d.

The tenor saxophone soloist on tracks c and d is undoubtedly Hot Lips Johnson. The 78 issue of tracks a and b has not yet been located.

Bette McLaurin (ldr), Andrew 'Fats' Ford, Taft Jordan, Abdul 'Chiefie' Salam (t), Elmer Crumbley, Clarence Johnson (tb), Jackie Fields, Dave McRae (as), Freddie Mitchell, Lucky Thompson (ts), Eddie Wilcox (p), Aaron Bell (b), Osie Johnson (d), Bette McLaurin (v)

The personnel are uncertain but assumed to be similar to that of the June 5, 1951 McLaurin/Wilcox session. The Lord and Bruyninckx discographies give a recording date of June 5, 1951 for this session while the Dieter Salemann and Tony Williams Lucky Thompson discographies indicate June 1950. The August 1951 date comes from the liner notes to Official 6045. Lucky Thompson does not solo on either track.

Johnnie Ray (ldr), Lucky Thompson (ts), Mundell Lowe (g), Stan Freeman (p, cel), Eddie Safranski (b), Ed Shaughnessy (d), The Four Lads (bkv), Johnnie Ray (v)

Lucky Thompson (ts) on c; Stan Freeman (p) on a, c-d, (cel) on b.

Lucky Thompson is not heard on tracks a, b or d. The 10" LP Columbia CL 6199 had no title. All issues of the tracks from this famous session are not listed.

Annisteen Allen, Gene Redd (ldr), Gene Redd (t, vib), Reuben Phillips (as), Lucky Thompson (ts), Pete Clark (bar), Cliff Smalls (p), Ike Isaacs (b), Jimmy Cobb (d), Annisteen Allen (v)

Annisteen Allen (ldr) on a-b, (v) on a-b; Gene Redd (t) on a-b, (vib) on b-d.

The Bruyninckx and King Label Discographies give the date of this session as October 31, 1951 while the Lord Discography indicates November 14, 1951. Tony Williams' Lucky Thompson discography also gives November 14, 1951 for tracks c and d (showing matrix numbers 1088, 1089) but "ca. 1951" for tracks a and b. Weir's Lucky Thompson Discography gives October 31, 1951 as the correct date and indicates that the November date is erroneous. Federal was a King subsidiary.

Thelonious Monk (ldr), Kenny Dorham (t), Lou Donaldson (as), Lucky Thompson (ts), Thelonious Monk (p), Nelson Boyd (b), Max Roach (d)

Kenny Dorham (t) on a-k; Lou Donaldson (as) on a-k; Lucky Thompson (ts) on a-k.

Information on the three rejected takes comes from "Brilliant Corners: A Bio-Discography of Thelonious Monk" by Chris Sheridan. These are not shown in the Ruppli/Cuscuna Blue Note Discography.

Jimmy Scott (ldr), Gil Askey (t), John Sanders (tb), Curby Alexander (as), Lucky Thompson (ts), Clarence Williams (bar), unknown (g), Ed Swanston (p), Peck Morrison (b), Herb Lovelle (d), Jimmy Scott (v)

Track c features ensemble vocal responses.

Benny Carter, Savannah Churchill (ldr), Doc Cheatham, Taft Jordan, Dick Vance (t), Tyree Glenn, Claude Jones, Frank Rehak (tb), Eddie Barefield, Benny Carter (as), Art Drellinger, Lucky Thompson (ts), Willard Brown (bar), Rene Hall (g), Billy Taylor (p), Ray Brown (b), Christopher Columbus (d), unknown (bkv), Savannah Churchill (v)

unknown (bkv) on c-d; Savannah Churchill (v) on c-d.

Tracks c and d were issued under Savannah Churchill's name. An unidentified vocal group is present on these two tracks. Several sources indicate that a version of "Georgia On My Mind" was recorded at this session but that title was actually recorded on August 18, 1952 in Los Angeles with a different ensemble. Lucky Thompson does not solo on any of the tracks.

Gene Redd (ldr), Gene Redd (t, vib), Reuben Phillips (as), Lucky Thompson (ts), Pete Clark (bar), Cliff Smalls (p, or), Ike Isaacs (b), Jimmy Cobb (d), Valerie Carr (v)

Valerie Carr (v) on c.

The Lord and King Label Discographies give December 14, 1952 as the date of this session while Bruyninckx indicates December 14, 1951. The Tony Williams Lucky Thompson discography gives November 14, 1951 for tracks c and d. Weir's Lucky Thompson discography indicates December 14, 1952. The matrix numbers are possibly consistent with the 1952 date and Federal 12119 was issued in 1953. On the other hand, the personnel are identical to those from the above October or November 1951 Annisteen Allen session suggesting a more likely 1951 recording date. Valerie Carr's vocal on track c is described as a "vocal obbligato." None of these titles has been auditioned.

Lucky Thompson (ldr), Harold Johnson (t), John Sanders (tb), Jimmy Powell (as), Lucky Thompson (ts), Clarence Williams (bar), Joe Earl Knight (p), Beverly Peer (b), Percy Brice (d)

Title d is a composition by Lucky Thompson and not the Tadd Dameron piece of the same name. Thompson is presumably the arranger of all titles.

Lucky Thompson (ldr), Gil Askey (t), George Matthews (tb), Curby Alexander (as), Lucky Thompson (ts), Clarence Williams (bar), Al Williams (p), Beverly Peer (b), Percy Brice (d)

Lucky Thompson is presumably the arranger.

Miles Davis (ldr), Miles Davis (t), J. J. Johnson (tb), Lucky Thompson (ts), Horace Silver (p), Percy Heath (b), Kenny Clarke (d)

Dizzy Gillespie (ldr), Dizzy Gillespie, Quincy Jones, Jimmy Nottingham, Ernie Royal (t), Leon Comegys, J. J. Johnson, George Matthews (tb), George Dorsey, Hilton Jefferson (as), Hank Mobley, Lucky Thompson (ts), Danny Bank (bar), Ray Concepcion, Wade Legge (p), Lou Hackney, Robert Rodriguez (b), Charli Persip (d), Jose Mangual (bo), Candido Camero de Guerra, Ramon 'Mongo' Santamaria (cng), Ubaldo Nieto (tim)

a, b, c, d  performed as medley

These four tracks constitute a suite, each section being a different variation on "Manteca" (which is called "Manteca Theme"). All discographies list a fifth title, "6/8", with a matrix number 1715-2 being issued on Norgran 1003 but inspection of that LP reveals no such track. The issued "Rhumba Finale" is actually a composite of 1714-4 ("Rhumba Finale, Part 1", 3:12) and 1715-2 ("Rhumba Finale, Part 2," a.k.a. "6/8", 1:29).

Terry Pollard, Clark Terry (ldr), Norma Carson, Clark Terry (t), Urbie Green (tb), Lucky Thompson (ts), Corky Hale (hrp), Terry Pollard (vib, p), Tal Farlow, Mary Osborne (g), Beryl Booker, Horace Silver (p), Percy Heath, Oscar Pettiford, Bonnie Wetzel (b), Kenny Clarke, Elaine Leighton (d)

Terry Pollard (ldr) on e-g, (vib) on e-g, (p) on d; Clark Terry (ldr) on a-d, (t) on a-d; Norma Carson (t) on d-g; Urbie Green (tb) on a-d; Lucky Thompson (ts) on a-d; Corky Hale (hrp) on e-g; Tal Farlow (g) on a-d; Mary Osborne (g) on d-g; Beryl Booker (p) on e-g; Horace Silver (p) on a-d; Percy Heath (b) on c-d; Oscar Pettiford (b) on a-b; Bonnie Wetzel (b) on e-g; Kenny Clarke (d) on a-d; Elaine Leighton (d) on e-g.

This is one of Leonard Feather's "battle of the bands." Tracks a-c involve the men and e-g, the women. Both are heard on track d. Although Irving Berlin's melody is heard on track d, soloists employ the standard "I Got Rhythm" chord progression.

Dizzy Gillespie (ldr), Dizzy Gillespie, Quincy Jones, Jimmy Nottingham, Ernie Royal (t), Leon Comegys, J. J. Johnson, George Matthews (tb), George Dorsey, Hilton Jefferson (as), Hank Mobley, Lucky Thompson (ts), Danny Bank (bar), Wade Legge (p), Lou Hackney (b), Charli Persip (d)

Lucky Thompson (ldr), Lucky Thompson (ts), Jimmy Hamilton (cl), Sidney Gross (g), Billy Taylor (p), Oscar Pettiford (b), Osie Johnson (d)

Jimmy Hamilton (cl) on a, c-e; Sidney Gross (g) on a.

This was Lucky Thompson's first LP as a leader.

Jimmy Hamilton (ldr), Ernie Royal (t), Lucky Thompson (ts), Jimmy Hamilton (cl), Sidney Gross (g), Joe Earl Knight (p), Oscar Pettiford (b), Osie Johnson (d)

Track d is incorrectly listed as "Prelude To a Kiss" on Urania 1003 and Jazz Kings 1208.

Jack Teagarden (ldr), Ruby Braff (t), Jack Teagarden (tb, v), Lucky Thompson (ts), Sol Yaged (cl), Sidney Gross (g), Kenny Kersey (p, cel), Milt Hinton (b), Denzil Best (d)

Ruby Braff (t) on a-f; Lucky Thompson (ts) on a-f; Sol Yaged (cl) on a-f; Kenny Kersey (p) on a-f, (cel) on g; Jack Teagarden (v) on b-e, g.

Teagarden's trombone is the only horn heard on track g.

Quincy Jones, King Pleasure (ldr), J. J. Johnson, Kai Winding (tb), Lucky Thompson (ts), Danny Bank (bar), Jimmy Jones (p), Paul Chambers (b), Joe Harris (d), Quincy Jones (dir), Jon Hendricks, Eddie Jefferson, King Pleasure, The Three Riffs (v)

Quincy Jones (ldr) on c-d; King Pleasure (ldr) on a-b, (v) on a-b; Jon Hendricks (v) on a; Eddie Jefferson (v) on a-b; The Three Riffs (v) on b.

Vocalists are out on tracks c and d.

John Lewis (ldr), J. J. Johnson (tb), Gunther Schuller (frh), Stan Getz, Lucky Thompson (ts), Aaron Sachs, Tony Scott (cl), James Politis (f), Manuel Zegler (bsn), Janet Putnam (hrp), Percy Heath (b), Connie Kay (d, tmp, tri)

Stan Getz (ts) on a-b; Lucky Thompson (ts) on c-e; Aaron Sachs (cl) on c-e; Tony Scott (cl) on a-b; Connie Kay (tmp) on a-b, (tri) on b-c.

This ensemble was called "The Modern Jazz Society." The Verve CD reissue 314 559 827-2 includes three rehearsal takes which the liner notes indicate were recorded on this date; however, they were recorded on November 18, 1955 with a slightly different ensemble - see that session below.

Jo Jones (ldr), Emmett Berry (t), Bennie Green (tb), Lucky Thompson (ts), Freddie Green (g), Count Basie, Nat Pierce (p), Walter Page (b), Jo Jones (d)

Count Basie (p) on a, f; Nat Pierce (p) on b-e.

This recording was part of the Jazz Showcase Series under the direction of John Hammond and was recorded in a church. The track "Caravan," which appears on most issues, was recorded at a different session and did not involve Lucky Thompson.

Jimmy Cleveland (ldr), Ernie Royal (t), Jimmy Cleveland (tb), Lucky Thompson (ts), Cecil Payne (bar), Barry Galbraith (g), John Williams (p), Paul Chambers (b), Max Roach (d)

Barry Galbraith (g) on b-c.

John Lewis (ldr), J. J. Johnson (tb), Gunther Schuller (frh), Lucky Thompson (ts), Tony Scott (cl), James Politis (f), Loren Glickman (bsn), Janet Putnam (hrp), Milt Jackson (vib), John Lewis (p), Percy Heath (b), Connie Kay (d, tmp, tri)

b, c, d  performed as medley

J. J. Johnson (tb) on a, d-j, l-m; Gunther Schuller (frh) on f-m; Lucky Thompson (ts) on a, c, e-m; Tony Scott (cl) on a-b, e-m; James Politis (f) on f-m; Loren Glickman (bsn) on f-m; Janet Putnam (hrp) on f-m; Milt Jackson (vib) on f-h; John Lewis (p) on a-h, k; Connie Kay (tmp) on k-m, (tri) on j, l.

This is a rehearsal for a concert held the following day (November 19, 1955) at Town Hall in New York City. The concert itself, which featured the Modern Jazz Quartet as well as the Modern Jazz Society ensemble, was not recorded. The personnel and track information were generously provided by George Schuller and Michael Fitzgerald (the latter also responsible for the discovery that tracks k-m were really recorded on this date and NOT on March 14, 1955 as indicated in the liner notes to Verve CD 314 559 827-2). George Schuller reports that although this was a rehearsal, the tracks are complete performances with the exception of i which has a breakdown during Tony Scott's solo. On the ballad medley, track b features Tony Scott, track c features Lucky Thompson and track d features J.J. Johnson. Milt Jackson only appears on tracks f-h. Tracks a-j have not been auditioned.

Jimmy Cleveland (ldr), Ernie Royal (t), Jimmy Cleveland (tb), Lucky Thompson (ts), Cecil Payne (bar), Barry Galbraith (g), Hank Jones (p), Oscar Pettiford (b), Osie Johnson (d)

Barry Galbraith (g) on a-d.

Milt Jackson (ldr), Lucky Thompson (ts), Milt Jackson (vib), Wade Legge (p), Wendell Marshall (b), Kenny Clarke (d)