...full of delightful group dynamics and individual virtuosity. Thompson leads his quartet with a relaxed confidence and impeccable dexterity...
With several Origin releases featuring mainstream heavyweights, young up-and-comers, and chordless trio explorations with his Trio East and Triocity groups, drummer Rich Thompson has covered vast musical ground. Here, Thompson teams with his bandmate from trumpeter Byron Stripling's band, pianist/organist Bobby Floyd, guitarist Corey Christiansen and bassist Peter Chwazik for an organic, grooving session covering originals, seldom heard classics such as Sonny Rollins' "Why Don't I," and John Scofield's "Gray & Visceral," to new takes on three beloved standards including "A Flower is a Lovesome Thing."
"...a study in purposeful orchestration..." - Modern Drummer
Track Listing:
1. Who Do You Have to Know? 6:07
2. Street Cred 7:19
3. Gray and Visceral 7:15
4. Why Don't I 4:45
5. With You 5:25
6. What a Wonderful World 6:42
7. Wave 6:56
8. A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing 6:02
9. Fried Pies 6:03
(1) by Rich Thompson; (2,5) by Corey Christiansen; (3) by John Scofield
(4) by Sonny Rollins; (6) by Bob Thiele / George David Weiss
(7) by Antônio Carlos Jobim; (8) by Billy Strayhorn; (9) By Wes Montgomery
Performers:
Corey Christiansen - guitar
Bobby Floyd - organ/piano
Peter Chwazik - bass
Rich Thompson - drums
Production Info:
Produced by Rich Thompson
Executive Producer: Janine Thompson
Recorded by Greg Thompson at
Kresge Studios, Rochester, NY
Mixed by Greg Thompson at
Injured Ear Productions, Rochester, NY
Mastered by David Darlington at
Bass Hit Studios, NYC
Photography & Video by Will Casaceli
Cover design & layout by John Bishop
Reviews of Who Do You Have to Know?
JazzWeekly (George W Harris)
Drummer Rich Thompson puts together a hip little quartet that veers between a humming Hammond groover and a piano post bopper, depending which instrument Bobby Floyd is sitting behind. Along with Peter Chwazik/b and Corey Christiansen/g, Thompson mixes standards with new material, with Christianson's guitar reminiscent of John Scofield, particular ...
All About Jazz (Dan McClenaghan)
4-STARS The title of drummer Rich Thompson's 2023 release is Who Do You Have To Know?. The answer to that: John Bishop and Matt Jorgensen, the team that runs the Origin and OA2 Records labels that boast prolific and consistently good outputs, featuring an array of well-known and a goodly number of not-so-well-known, but always interesting, often t ...
Jazz Rochester (Editor)
Welcome to the first in what I hope will be a growing series of posts about new albums being put out by one of the talented jazz musicians or groups in and around Rochester, NY. The first is by local drummer (and Eastman professor) Rich Thompson, who is asking that perennial question of those breaking into anything new with his new album Who Do You ...
