VANCE THOMPSON

LOST AND FOUND

Moondo Records

Vance Thompson, vibraphone/composer; Taber Gable, piano; Steve Kovalcheck, guitar; Tommy Sauter, bass; Marcus Finnie, drums.

Vance Thompson is a Grammy-nominated trumpeter.  He’s also the founder/director of the internationally acclaimed Knoxville Jazz Orchestra.

After nearly five years of struggle battling the effects of a neurological disorder, in May of 2022, the musician realized that the disease was making it increasingly difficult to play his beloved trumpet.  No amount of practice or physical therapy was able to overcome the impairments. But Thompson’s great love of music could not be silenced.  He found a new path of musical expression on the vibraphone. This is his debut recording as a jazz vibraphonist.

The Thompson ensemble opens up this beautiful album with a swinging number called “Tell It Like It Is.” This original tune introduces us to Vance Thompson, the composer. His song sounds like a jazz standard, with its happy-go-lucky melody line and Thompson shining brightly on the vibes. Taber Gable is a magnificent pianist. His solo is inspired and challenging. Guitarist, Steve Kovalchek, also takes an impressive solo. I had to play this tune twice.

Track #2 is quite beautiful, a Latin ballad that meanders across my listening room like a soft spring breeze.  Titled “The Thread of all Sorrows,” it’s another Thompson original.

Changing instruments in the prime of his career seems daunting, but Vance Thompson took it all in stride.

“It was kind of amazing.  It didn’t take too long before I sounded like myself.  It did take some adjustment.  A wind instrument can do all kinds of things that you can’t do with vibraphone.  But the same is true in the opposite direction: you can do things on a vibraphone that you can’t do on trumpet, like play multiple notes at the same time or play whole chords. The vibraphone makes a beautiful sound, almost completely on its own, and there are certain things that just feel natural to do once you start playing,” Thompson exclaimed.

Another favorite tune is “Sleight of Hand” that gives drummer Marcus Finnie a time to shine. It’s a perpetual swinger that will have you tapping your toes and popping your fingers. On the tune ”Bud Powell” (a Chick Corea composition) bassist Tommy Sauter holds the rhythm section together like super glue, locking arms with Finnie on drums.

Vance Thompson is also an outstanding composer. He offers the listener six awesome compositions on this album.  Each features a catchy melody. His jazz players are also gifted. This album feels joyful, spreading happiness around like sweet jelly on fresh baked bread.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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