Danny Thompson, Victoria and Alfie. In the early 1960s Danny bought a second-hand double bass from an old man in Battersea who let him have the instrument for £5 (despite the fact that it was worth much more than that), on the basis of his keenness to play it. He christened the instrument "Victoria" and it has remained his instrument of choice ever since. The bass was built by the Gand, a French luthier, in 1865. Alfie joined the family after luggage regulations on flights prevented Victoria from going on tour with Danny. He's smaller and a lot more travel friendly.
Daniel Henry Edward 'Danny' Thompson is an English double bass player. He has had a long musical career playing with a large variety of other musicians, particularly Richard Thompson (no relation) and John Martyn, but including many others: at various times has for example played with Roy Orbison, Freddie and the Dreamers, Tubby Hayes, Ronnie Scott, Tom Paxton, Donovan and Kate Bush. For five years, he was a member of Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated, and he was a founding member of the British folk rock band Pentangle. Since 1987, he has also recorded four solo albums. He converted to the Muslim faith in 1990.
Danny was born in Teignmouth, Devon, in 1939. His father, a miner, joined the Royal Navy at the start of World War II and was lost in action whilst crewing submarines. When Thompson was aged 6, the family moved to London and he was brought up in the working-class area of Battersea. At school he excelled at football and played as a junior for Chelsea, the team he has supported ever since. Whilst at school he learnt guitar, mandolin, trumpet and trombone before settling on the double bass as his instrument of choice.
Stylistically he favours jazz. His improvisatory style is very distinctive and can usually be identified at first hearing. He routinely creates growling twangs as well as high-register figures that complement the music. He is noted for his extensive use of the bow, especially to create eerie high-pitched notes as well as thundering bass backgrounds.
While he has his own album releases, his highest profile recordings are currently with Richard Thompson e.g. Mirror Blue, The Old Kit Bag, and the concert DVD release Richard Thompson Live in Austin Texas, from the Austin City Limits series.
During his partnership with John Martyn, their drinking and the excessive behaviour it spawned became the stuff of legend. In one incident related by Martyn, he woke up after passing out on a hotel room floor, to find himself under a rug which Thompson had nailed down, leaving only Martyn's head exposed. Thompson went about his business, eating breakfast etc., ignoring Martyn's pleas to let him loose.
Danny received a Lifetime achievement award in the 2007 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace...
Poem 2 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (please see my blog): WALKABOUT WITH MY PEN
Once drove an old sedan, up north, From a place in Sydney to Cairns; Then to Kuranda I went forth, By train, to look without set plans.
I browsed through the trendy market, With fresh fruits of tropical kind; Walked to the creek through lush thicket - Nature’s hand giving peace of mind.
I dined in a scenic cafe; Then, outside, as I wrote for yen, Some passing Kooris called-out: “Hey, You go walkabout with your pen.”
Request or question, I don’t know - Assured voices, elderly men. That’s now several years ago, And I’ve seen the world - with my pen.
Hi Danny, You were fantastic in Cabaret of Souls. Stopped by your room thursday morning before I left for NY with the rest of my PD's for the great solo...:) Next time! Hugs & Love, b
First release on Oxeyedaisy Recordings, in association with Grumpyman Records…
5 track CDEP, Green Leaves & Bare Branches, by Little Scratch. Limited edition run, with hand finished sleeves. Tracks can be previewed on Little Scratch’s myspace page.
“A rare sighting of the excellent Little Scratch, who produce a wonderful, slightly hazy pastoral sound… Psychedelic whimsy with distinctly melancholic overtones”.
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Thankyou so much!
Jani
Great gig at the Enmore last night Danny. After Eric played Get Onboard I almost yelled out "Basket of Light" ha ha ha!
I couldn't stay but wanted to wish you a great 70th birthday tomorrow (Saturday)! You've brought me countless hours of pleasure down the years with Pentangle, John Martyn (yes, bless him!), Mara, the Songhai project with Toumani, the Blind Boys of Alabama, and two Australian tours with Eric Bibb - to name but a few.
So have a great one - and thanks again for all the great times you've given me!
Hi Danny, They showed a live show from the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin on TV here last sunday with yourself and John Martyn from 1987. Masterful, beautiful, a great performance, it was so sad to hear about John's recent passing. Thanks for all the great music that you both bestowed to this world, it has made a difference. Donal
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