Ross Tompkins

Ross Tompkins (* 13. May 1938 in Detroit , † thirtieth June 2006 in St. Augustine (Florida) ) was an American jazz - pianist .

Ross Tompkins studied at the New England Conservatory of Music , then moved to New York City , where he played regularly in Kai Winding's band (1960-67), but also with Eric Dolphy (1964) and Wes Montgomery (1966). He also worked with the quintet by Bob Brookmeyer / Clark Terry (1966), with Benny Goodman (1968), Bobby Hackett (1965–70) and with Al Cohn and Zoot Sims (1968–1972). In 1971 he moved to Los Angeles , as a pianist in the band where he until 1992 Doc Severinsen in Johnny Carson's Tonight Show was active. He also starred with Louie Bellson , Joe Venuti , Red Norvo, and Zoot Sims (with whom he appeared on The Half Note ) in the 1970s , with Jack Sheldon in the 1980s . Under his own name he recorded a few albums for the Concord Records label , and in the 1990s he made three more solo albums for the progressive label. In 2006, Tompkins died of lung cancer .

Discographic notes

• A Pair to Draw To (Concord, 1975)
• Scrimshaw (Concord, 1976)
• Live at Concord 1977 (Concord, 1977)
• Lost in the Stars (Concord, 1977)
• Ross Tompkins and Good Friends (Concord, 1978)
• Festival Time (Concord, 1979)
• Street of Dreams (Famous Door, 1982)
• Solo piano (Progressive, 1994)
• Celebrates the Music of Jule Styne (Progressive, 1995)
• Music (Progressive, 1996)
• Ross Tompkins Celebrates the Music of Harold Arlen (Progressive, 1999)
• Younger than Springtime (Arbors Records, 2001)

Web links

• Ross Tompkins biography of Richard S. Ginell in the all music guide
• Obituary in the New York Times , July 9, 2006

literature

• Richard Cook , Brian Morton : The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD . 6th edition. Penguin, London 2002, ISBN 0-14-051521-6 .
• Bielefeld catalog 1988 & 2002

Individual evidence

1. ^ New York Magazine Nov. 23, 1970