Role

:

Composer  

Country

:

Canada

Birth

:

January 18, 1940 in Powell River, British Columbia, Canada

Genre

:

Film

 

Don Thompson was a Canadian jazz pianist, vibraphonist, bassist, and composer who was born on January 18, 1940, in Powell River, British Columbia. He was a versatile musician who was equally comfortable playing jazz, classical, and pop music. Thompson was a prolific composer who wrote music for a variety of ensembles, including big bands, small groups, and orchestras. Thompson grew up in a musical family, and his father was a trumpet player who played in local dance bands. Thompson started playing the piano at a young age and quickly showed a talent for music. He studied classical piano with local teachers and played in his high school band. After graduating from high school, Thompson moved to Vancouver to study music at the University of British Columbia. In Vancouver, Thompson became involved in the local jazz scene and started playing in clubs and jam sessions. He also began to study jazz piano with local pianist and composer Bob Murphy. Thompson quickly became known as one of the top jazz pianists in Vancouver and was in demand as a sideman and leader. In the early 1960s, Thompson moved to Toronto to pursue his music career. He quickly became a fixture on the Toronto jazz scene and played with many of the top musicians in the city. He also started to gain national recognition and was invited to play at the Montreal Jazz Festival in 1967. Thompson's career as a composer began to take off in the 1970s. He wrote music for a variety of ensembles, including big bands, small groups, and orchestras. His compositions were characterized by their melodic and harmonic sophistication and their ability to blend jazz and classical elements. One of Thompson's most famous compositions is "A Child's Garden Suite," which was written in 1976. The suite is a collection of six pieces for jazz trio and string orchestra and was inspired by the poetry of Robert Louis Stevenson. The suite has been performed by many jazz trios and orchestras and has become a staple of the jazz repertoire. Thompson also wrote music for film and television. He composed the score for the Canadian film "The Grey Fox" in 1982, which won the Genie Award for Best Original Score. He also wrote music for the television series "Street Legal" and "The Kids in the Hall." Thompson was a versatile musician who played a variety of instruments. He was known for his virtuosic playing on the vibraphone and was one of the few jazz musicians who played the bassoon. He was also an accomplished pianist and bassist and played both instruments on many of his recordings. Thompson was a highly respected musician who was admired by his peers and fans alike. He won numerous awards throughout his career, including the Juno Award for Best Jazz Album in 1983 and the Order of Canada in 2009. He continued to perform and record music until his death on November 18, 2020, at the age of 80. In conclusion, Don Thompson was a Canadian jazz pianist, vibraphonist, bassist, and composer who had a long and successful career in music. He was a versatile musician who was equally comfortable playing jazz, classical, and pop music. Thompson was a prolific composer who wrote music for a variety of ensembles, including big bands, small groups, and orchestras. His compositions were characterized by their melodic and harmonic sophistication and their ability to blend jazz and classical elements.

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