Sir Charles Thompson
recorded his most essential work in the 1940s, but the
Count Basie
-influenced pianist was still quite capable of excellence when the 21st century rolled around. Recorded live at Chicago's
Jazz Showcase
in August 2000, this CD finds an 82-year-old
Thompson
continuing to play with plenty of warmth and enthusiasm. Very few surprises occur; from the opener
"Robbins' Nest"
(
's most famous composition) to
Coleman Hawkins
'
"Stuffy"
and overdone standards like
"Easy Living,"
"'S Wonderful,"
and
"Body and Soul,"
the improviser tends to play it safe in his choice of material and provides the type of bop/swing set he could have performed 50 or 55 years earlier. But
is still a joy to listen to, and his chops have obviously held up nicely over the years.
owner
Joe Segal
chose all of the Chicago-based musicians who accompany
Sir Charles
; most of the songs find him leading a trio that includes
Ed de Haas
on bass and
Charles Braugham
on drums, although five selections also employ reedman
Eric Schneider
.
Robbins' Nest: Live at the Jazz Showcase
falls short of essential, but it's a pleasing CD that
's diehard fans will appreciate. ~ Alex Henderson