CD (Item 37499) Universal (France), 1956 -- Condition: Mint

Some of Lucky Thompson's rarest work from the 50s -- and some of his best! The American tenorist is working here in two different French groups -- one a quintet with Henri Renaud on piano, the other a tentet with the core quartet of Renaud, plus some additional local horn players. Unlike some of Thompson's other albums from the time, which can frequently be dominated by standards, this set's got some great original material -- mostly written by Renaud, and infused with a sharp modernist swing. Tiltes include "Souscription", "Marcel Le Fourreur", "G&B", "Tight Squeeze", "Meet Quincy Jones", and "Influence". Lucky's tone is rich and soulful -- and the session's gone to the top of our list of his work!