Another Time, Another Place

Don Thompson, piano

Reg Schwager, guitar

&

The Penderecki String Quartet

Living in San Francisco at the start of his career, Don Thompson played in the John Handy Quintet, one of the leading jazz groups in the 1960’s.  It was another time, another place and here Don was exposed to experiments in jazz that ranged from group improvisation to through-composed composition.   Encountering the music of Krzysztof Penderecki in the spring of ‘66, Don began thinking of how his own jazz could incorporate the concepts of composed improvisation and making his jazz solos sound like spontaneous composition.    This program of original jazz works composed by Don Thompson integrates the players through sweet strains of bebop, Brazilian samba, and tunes of Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, and Cole Porter.