Barbara Thompson
Encyclopedia
Barbara Gracey Thompson MBE
(born 27 July 1944, Oxford
) is an English
jazz
saxophonist, flautist
and composer. She studied clarinet
, flute
, piano
and classical composition at the Royal College of Music
, but the music of Duke Ellington
and John Coltrane
made her shift her interests to jazz and saxophone
. Since 1967, she has been married to drummer Jon Hiseman
of Colosseum
.
Around 1970, she was part of Neil Ardley
's New Jazz Orchestra
and appeared on albums by Colosseum. Starting in 1975, she was involved in the foundation of three bands:
She was awarded the MBE
in 1996 for services to music. Due to Parkinson's disease
diagnosed in 1997, she retired as an active saxophonist in 2001 with a farewell tour. After a period of working as a composer exclusively, she returned to stage in 2004 to replace the unwell Dick Heckstall-Smith
during Colosseum
's "Tomorrow's Blues" tour, and in 2005 she performed live with Paraphernalia in their "Never Say Goodbye" tour. Since 2004 she has been permanent member of Colosseum
.
She cooperated closely with Andrew Lloyd-Webber
for musicals
like Cats
and Starlight Express
and his requiem
. She wrote several classical compositions, music for movies and TV, a musical of her own and songs for the United Jazz and Rock Ensemble, Barbara Thompson’s Paraphernalia and her big band
Moving Parts.
Her playing, if not her name will be familiar to a wider audience, from her playing the incidental music in the popular ITV
police series A Touch of Frost starring David Jason
. She also played flute on Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds
.
. Their son Marcus was born in 1972, and their daughter Anna (now known as singer/songwriter Ana Gracey http://www.ana-gracey.co.uk) in 1975.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 27 July 1944, Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
) is an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
saxophonist, flautist
Flautist
A flautist or flutist is a musician who plays an instrument in the flute family. See List of flautists.The choice of "flautist" versus "flutist" is the source of dispute among players of the instrument...
and composer. She studied clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
, flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
, piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and classical composition at the Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
, but the music of Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
and John Coltrane
John Coltrane
John William Coltrane was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Working in the bebop and hard bop idioms early in his career, Coltrane helped pioneer the use of modes in jazz and later was at the forefront of free jazz...
made her shift her interests to jazz and saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
. Since 1967, she has been married to drummer Jon Hiseman
Jon Hiseman
Jon Hiseman is an English drummer, recording engineer, record producer and music publisher.-Career:...
of Colosseum
Colosseum (band)
Colosseum is a pioneering British progressive jazz-rock band, mixing progressive rock and jazz-based improvisation.-History 1968 - 1971:The band was formed in September 1968 by drummer Jon Hiseman, tenor sax player Dick Heckstall-Smith and bass player Tony Reeves, who had previously worked together...
.
Around 1970, she was part of Neil Ardley
Neil Ardley
Neil Richard Ardley was a prominent English jazz pianist and composer, who also made a name as the author of more than 100 popular books on science and technology, and on music.-Brief biography:...
's New Jazz Orchestra
New Jazz Orchestra
- Origins and members :The NJO was the offspring of a popular weekend jazz club which had its home at 'The Green Man' pub on Blackheath SE3, where the 'house' band was the Ian Bird Quintet - Origins and members :The NJO was the offspring of a popular weekend jazz club which had its home at 'The...
and appeared on albums by Colosseum. Starting in 1975, she was involved in the foundation of three bands:
- the United Jazz and Rock EnsembleUnited Jazz and Rock Ensemble350px|right|United Jazz + Rock Ensemble Farewell Tour 2002The United Jazz + Rock Ensemble developed from a group of jazz musicians that was formed for a 1974 to 1975 television show of Süddeutscher Rundfunk...
, a 'band of bandleaders' with Wolfgang DaunerWolfgang DaunerWolfgang Dauner is a German jazz fusion pianist, composer and keyboardist born in Stuttgart, Germany, probably best known for his work in the United Jazz and Rock Ensemble and with musicians such as Hans Koller, Albert Mangelsdorff, Volker Kriegel or Ack van Rooyen...
(p), Volker KriegelVolker KriegelVolker Kriegel was a German jazz guitarist and composer born in Darmstadt, Germany, perhaps most noteworthy for his contributions to the European jazz rock genre and for his collaborations with the American vibraphonist Dave Pike...
(g), Albert MangelsdorffAlbert MangelsdorffAlbert Mangelsdorff was one of the most accredited and innovative trombonists of modern jazz who became famous for his distinctive technique of playing multiphonics.-Biography:...
(tb), Eberhard WeberEberhard WeberEberhard Weber is a German double bassist and composer. As a bass player, Weber is known for his highly distinctive tone and phrasing...
(b), Ian CarrIan CarrIan Carr was a Scottish jazz musician, composer, writer, and educator.-Early years:Carr was born in Dumfries, Scotland, the elder brother of Mike Carr...
(tp), Charlie MarianoCharlie MarianoCarmine Ugo Mariano was an American jazz alto saxophonist. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts and died in Cologne, Germany.-Biography:Mariano was the son of Italian immigrants....
(sax), Ack van Rooyen (tp) and Jon Hiseman (dr). - Barbara Thompson’s Jubiaba (9 piece Latin/Rock band) including Peter LemerPeter LemerPeter Lemer is an English jazz musician. He worked with the Pete Lemer Quintet, Spontaneous Music Ensemble, Annette Peacock, Harry Beckett, Gilgamesh, Baker Gurvitz Army, Seventh Wave, Harry Beckett's Joy Unlimited, Pierre Moerlen's Gong, Mike Oldfield Group, In Cahoots, Miller/Baker/Lemer...
, Roy BabbingtonRoy BabbingtonRoy Babbington is a rock and jazz bassist. He became well known for being a member of the Canterbury scene progressive rock/jazz fusion band Soft Machine.-Biography:...
, Henry LowtherHenry LowtherHenry Lowther may refer to:*Henry Lowther, 3rd Viscount Lonsdale *Henry Lowther, 3rd Earl of Lonsdale *Henry Lowther , British Conservative politician...
, Ian Hamer, Derek WadsworthDerek WadsworthDerek Wadsworth was a British jazz trombonist, session musician, composer and arranger....
, Trevor TomkinsTrevor TomkinsTrevor Ramsey Tomkins is an English jazz drummer best known for his work in a number of British bands in the 1970s, including Gilgamesh.His recorded several albums with pianist Michael Garrick in the late 1960s and early 1970s...
, Bill Le SageBill Le SageBill Le Sage, born William A. Le Sage, born London - died , London, was a British pianist, vibraphonist, arranger, composer and bandleader. His credits include the score for the 1960 film The Tell-Tale Heart....
, Glyn Thomas. - Barbara Thompson’s Paraphernalia, her current working band with Peter LemerPeter LemerPeter Lemer is an English jazz musician. He worked with the Pete Lemer Quintet, Spontaneous Music Ensemble, Annette Peacock, Harry Beckett, Gilgamesh, Baker Gurvitz Army, Seventh Wave, Harry Beckett's Joy Unlimited, Pierre Moerlen's Gong, Mike Oldfield Group, In Cahoots, Miller/Baker/Lemer...
(p), Billy Thompson (v) http://www.billythompson.co.uk/, Dave Ball (b) http://www.taif.co.uk/ and Jon HisemanJon HisemanJon Hiseman is an English drummer, recording engineer, record producer and music publisher.-Career:...
on drums.
She was awarded the MBE
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
in 1996 for services to music. Due to Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
diagnosed in 1997, she retired as an active saxophonist in 2001 with a farewell tour. After a period of working as a composer exclusively, she returned to stage in 2004 to replace the unwell Dick Heckstall-Smith
Dick Heckstall-Smith
Dick Heckstall-Smith was an English jazz and blues saxophonist. He played with some of the most important English blues-rock and jazz fusion bands of the 1960s and 1970s.-Early years:...
during Colosseum
Colosseum (band)
Colosseum is a pioneering British progressive jazz-rock band, mixing progressive rock and jazz-based improvisation.-History 1968 - 1971:The band was formed in September 1968 by drummer Jon Hiseman, tenor sax player Dick Heckstall-Smith and bass player Tony Reeves, who had previously worked together...
's "Tomorrow's Blues" tour, and in 2005 she performed live with Paraphernalia in their "Never Say Goodbye" tour. Since 2004 she has been permanent member of Colosseum
Colosseum (band)
Colosseum is a pioneering British progressive jazz-rock band, mixing progressive rock and jazz-based improvisation.-History 1968 - 1971:The band was formed in September 1968 by drummer Jon Hiseman, tenor sax player Dick Heckstall-Smith and bass player Tony Reeves, who had previously worked together...
.
She cooperated closely with Andrew Lloyd-Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber is an English composer of musical theatre.Lloyd Webber has achieved great popular success in musical theatre. Several of his musicals have run for more than a decade both in the West End and on Broadway. He has composed 13 musicals, a song cycle, a set of...
for musicals
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
like Cats
Cats (musical)
Cats is a musical composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot...
and Starlight Express
Starlight Express
Starlight Express is a rock musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber , Richard Stilgoe and Arlene Phillips , with later revisions by Don Black and David Yazbek . The story follows a child's dream in which his toy train set comes to life; famously the actors perform wearing roller skates...
and his requiem
Requiem
A Requiem or Requiem Mass, also known as Mass for the dead or Mass of the dead , is a Mass celebrated for the repose of the soul or souls of one or more deceased persons, using a particular form of the Roman Missal...
. She wrote several classical compositions, music for movies and TV, a musical of her own and songs for the United Jazz and Rock Ensemble, Barbara Thompson’s Paraphernalia and her big band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
Moving Parts.
Her playing, if not her name will be familiar to a wider audience, from her playing the incidental music in the popular ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
police series A Touch of Frost starring David Jason
David Jason
Sir David John White, OBE , better known by his stage name David Jason, is an English BAFTA award-winning actor. He is best known as the main character Derek "Del Boy" Trotter on the BBC sit-com Only Fools and Horses from 1981, the voice of Mr Toad in The Wind In The Willows and as detective Jack...
. She also played flute on Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds
Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds
Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds is a 1978 concept album by Jeff Wayne, retelling the story of The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells. Its format is progressive rock and string orchestra, using narration and leitmotifs to carry the story via rhyming melodic lyrics that express...
.
Family
Since 1967, Thompson has been married to drummer Jon HisemanJon Hiseman
Jon Hiseman is an English drummer, recording engineer, record producer and music publisher.-Career:...
. Their son Marcus was born in 1972, and their daughter Anna (now known as singer/songwriter Ana Gracey http://www.ana-gracey.co.uk) in 1975.
Discography
- The Man Who Took The Valise Off The Floor Of Grand Central Station At Noon The She TrinityThe She TrinityThe She Trinity was a Canadian/British pop group of the 1960s, an all-girl group who played their instruments, quite unusual at the time. The original members, Robyn Yorke, Shelley Gillespie and Sue Kirby, were Canadians who came to England around 1965. They were joined by Pauline Moran on bass and...
1966 - Angle Howard Riley Trio 1968
- Valentyne Suite ColosseumColosseum (band)Colosseum is a pioneering British progressive jazz-rock band, mixing progressive rock and jazz-based improvisation.-History 1968 - 1971:The band was formed in September 1968 by drummer Jon Hiseman, tenor sax player Dick Heckstall-Smith and bass player Tony Reeves, who had previously worked together...
1969 - Daughter of Time Pop Chronik Colosseum 1970
- Michael Gibbs Michael GibbsMichael GibbsMichael Gibbs is the name of:* Michael Gibbs , Newfoundland lawyer and politician* Michael Gibbs aka Mike Gibbs, jazz composer and arranger* Michael Gibbs , Dean of Cape Town and Dean of Chester...
1970 - Little Big Band Keef HartleyKeef HartleyKeef Hartley was an English drummer and bandleader. He fronted the Keef Hartley Band, and played at Woodstock. Hartley was later a member of Dog Soldier, and variously worked with Rory Storm, The Artwoods and John Mayall.-Biography:Hartley was born in Preston, Lancashire, England...
Band 1971 - The Beginning - Vol. 6: Keef Hartley Band Keef Hartley Band 1973
- Saxophone on The Roaring SilenceThe Roaring SilenceThe Roaring Silence is an album released in 1976 by Manfred Mann's Earth Band. Like other Earth Band albums, this includes material by other composers...
by Manfred Mann's Earth BandManfred Mann's Earth BandManfred Mann's Earth Band is a British progressive rock group formed in 1971 by Manfred Mann.-Formation:Having started in the 1960s with a British band that had such hits as "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" and "The Mighty Quinn", then moving on to Jazz Fusion with Manfred Mann's Chapter Three, Manfred's third...
1976 - Kaleidoscope Of Rainbows Neil Ardley 1976
- Live Im Schuetzenhaus United Jazz and Rock Ensemble 1977
- NDR Jazzworkshop '77 Various Artists 1977
- Barbara Thompson's Paraphernalia Barbara Thompson's Paraphernalia 1978
- Barbara Thompson's Jubiaba Barbara Thompson 1978
- Variations Lloyd Webber, Andrew 1978
- Harmony of the Spheres Neil Ardley 1978
- Teamwork United Jazz and Rock Ensemble 1978
- Wilde Tales Barbara Thompson's Paraphernalia 1979
- Tell Me On A Sunday Marti Webb 1979
- The Break Even Point United Jazz and Rock Ensemble 1979
- Live In Concert Barbara Thompson's Paraphernalia 1980
- Chance Manfred Mann's Earth Band 1980
- Ghosts Barbara Thompson/Rod Argent 1981
- Cats Andrew Lloyd Webber 1981
- Live in Berlin United Jazz and Rock Ensemble 1981
- Zwischenbilanz-Das Beste aus den Jahren 1977 - 1981 United Jazz and Rock Ensemble 1981
- Mother Earth Barbara Thompson 1982
- Ghosts Barabara Thompson/Rod Argent 1982
- Cool Cat Jeff And Friends Wohlgenannt 1983
- Requiem Andrew Lloyd Webber 1983
- Pure Fantasy Barbara Thompson's Paraphernalia 1984
- United Live Opus sechs United Jazz and Rock Ensemble 1984
- Frauen-Power Various Artists 1985
- Shadow Show Barbara Thompson/Rod Argent 1985
- Live im Berliner Metropol-Theater Barbara Thompson's Paraphernalia 1985
- Heavenly Bodies Barbara Thompson 1986
- Ganz schoen heiss, Man! About Time Too! United Jazz and Rock Ensemble 1986
- Highlights II United Jazz and Rock Ensemble 1987
- A Cry From The Heart Barbara Thompson's Paraphernalia 1988
- Songs From The Center Of The Earth Barbara Thompson 1990
- Perspective '92 Various Artists 1991
- Breathless Barbara Thompson's Paraphernalia 1991
- Round Seven United Jazz and Rock Ensemble 1992
- Everlasting Flame Barbara Thompson's Paraphernalia 1993
- Barbara Song Barbara Thompson and the Medici String Quartet 1995
- Lady Saxophone Barbara Thompson's Paraphernalia 1995
- Die Neunte von United United Jazz and Rock Ensemble 1996
- Women's Music From Celestial Harmonies Various Artists 1996
- Shifting Sands Barbara Thompson's Paraphernalia 1998
- The Sound Inside / Music And Architecture Various Artists 1998
- United Jazz and Rock Ensemble 1999
- Thompson's Tangos and other soft Dances Barbara Thompson's Paraphernalia 2000
- Cuff Clout Kate and Mike Westbrook 2001
- In the Eye of a Storm Barbara Thompson's Paraphernalia 2003
- Never Say Goodbye Barbara Thompson's Paraphernalia 2005