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Chester Thompson: A Joyful Noise

 A l b u m   D e t a i l s


Label: Camino Records
Released: 1999
Time:
 49:35
Category: Pop/Rock
Producer(s): Chester Thompson
Rating: ********.. (8/10)
Media type: CD
Web address: www.chesterthompson.com
Appears with: Genesis, Mike Rutherford, Phil Collins, Tony Banks, Frank Zappa, Carlos Santana, Weather Report, John Lee Hooker, Era
Purchase date: 2000.10.24
Price in €: 14,99



 S o n g s ,   T r a c k s


[1] Tropical Sunday (Ch.Thompson, arr. O.Ruiz) - 5:05
[2] So-Soka (Ch.Thompson, arr. O.Ruiz) - 4:42
[3] Homeland (Ch.Thompson, K.Tuney) - 5:18
[4] Drums Are Loud (Ch.Thompson) - 1:42
[5] A Joyful Noise (Ch.Thompson) - 3:54
[6] Chunky (Ch.Thompson) - 4:52
[7] Jussa Thang (Ch.Thompson, K.Tuney) - 5:07
[8] Cool Grove (Ch.Thompson, M.Hill) - 3:30
[9] Raw (Ch.Thompson) - 5:25
[10] Addatude (Ch.Thompson, arr. M.Hill) - 5:26
[11] Amazing Grace (J.Newton, arr. Ch.Thompson) - 4:35

 A r t i s t s ,   P e r s o n n e l


Chester Thompson - Drums, Producer

Additional musicians:
Ronnie Vann - Guitar and Backing Vocals
Freddie Fox - Guitars
Jay Leach - Guitars
Peewee Hill - Bass and Backing Vocals
Michiko Hill - Keyboards and Backing Vocals
Otmaro Ruiz - Keyboards
Kevin Toney - Keyboards
George Duke - Keyboards
Mike Rosen - Programming
Steve Fowler - Flute, Alto Sax
Brandon Fields - Tenor Sax
Charles Owen - Tenor Sax
Gerald Albright - Tenor Sax
Harry Kim - Trumpe
t Walter Fowler - Fleugal Horn, Trumpet
Bruce Fowler - Trombone
Debra Dobkin - Percussion
Akil Thompson - Electronic Drums and Backing Vocals
Pamela Deuel Hart - Backing Vocals
Yoshio Maki - Backing Vocals
Wendy Sacks - Backing Vocals
Roz Thompson - Backing Vocals
Brenda White - Backing Vocals
Greg Walker - Backing Vocals

Hiro Iljima - Executive Producer
Hal C. Sakcs - Engineer, Mixing
Peewee Hill - Engineer
Brian K. Gardner - Mastering
Paulo Estrup - Production Assistant
Brenda White - Production Assistant
Shoko Dean - Production Assistant
Craig Hayes - Photography
Harry Pearce - Design

 C o m m e n t s ,   N o t e s


Out of print in the U.S., this is a reissue of the amazing rock drummer's 1992 solo album. Guests include George Duke, Gerald Albright and Harry Kim. Thompson has worked extensively with Frank Zappa, Genesis, Donna Summer, The Bee Gees, Carlos Santana, Steve Winwood, George Duke & Phil Collins, to name but a few. 11 tracks. 1999 release. Acclaimed Session Drummer who Has Worked Extensively with the Likes of Frank Zappa, Genesis, Donna Summer, the Bee Gees, Carlos Santana, Steve Windwood, George Duke, Phil Collins and Others.



Die Proggemeinde wird auf die Frage "Wer ist Chester Thompson?" natürlich antworten: Tourdrummer von Genesis. Das ist zwar nicht gelogen, aber nur die halbe Miete. Unter den Künstlern und Bands mit denen der 1948 in Baltimore geborene Farbige sind Namen zu finden wie Weather Report, Frank Zappa, Phil Collins aber auch Donna Summer oder Niel Diamond. (Ihr wißt natürlich, daß ich nicht wirklich klug bin, sondern das nur aus dem Infomaterial abgeschrieben habe) "A Joyful Noise" ist die erste Soloarbeit Thompsons, und hat mit Prog gleich gar nichts zu tun. (Warum sollte sie das auch, nur weil jemand vor etlichen Jahren mal mit Genesis getrommelt hat). Den Zahn habe ich euch also schon gezogen, statt dessen gibt es schlicht und ergreifend vorwiegend funky Rock, und zwar - von ein wenig LaLaLa mal abgesehen - ausnahmslos instrumental. Soundbestimmend sind neben dem klassischen Rockinstrumentarium vor allem die Bläser, ja durchaus typisch für solche Art von Musik. Am Songwriting war Chester Thompson maßgeblich mitbeteiligt, was die Instrumente angeht beschränkt er sich mal abgesehen von ein wenig Keyboards auf sein Hauptinstrument. Natürlich kriegt der Hörer gelegentlich eine Lehrvorführung, was man mit einem Schlagzeug so alles anfangen kann, aber "A Joyful Noise" ist alles andere als ein einziges Drumsolo. Das Album hat insgesamt ein sehr positives, optimistisches Feeling, um sich daran jedoch erfreuen zu können, braucht man eine gewisse Aufgeschlossenheit gegenüber Funk, Jazz und Soul.



To the cognoscenti Chester Thompson has always been the "drummers drummer". Probably best known for his work with Genesis, Thompson has also worked with Frank Zappa, Donna Summer, Freddie Hubbard, The Bee Gees, Carlos Santana, Steve Winwood, George Duke, Phil Collins and a young bass player called Jaco Pastorius... Finally captain of his own ship and displaying a talent that has become unsinkable, unstoppable and unforgettable his first solo offering "A Joyful Noise" is released through Camino Records on 24th May. Guests include George Duke, Gerald Albright and Harry Kim. Baltimore raised Chester grew up amongst legendary figures that seem impossibly exotic to Europeans. Ray Charles, for example - "Did you know he was a fabulous chess player..." said Chester backstage on a Genesis tour in '77. And he wasn' t joking.



Steve Hackett of Genesis recalls ...

"The thing you really notice about Chester when you're working with him is he seems to get better with each gig as he refines his part".

As soon as you meet Chester you realise that he is a deeply religious man with a faith that has sustained him over many a long and gruelling tour, allowing him to weather the tantrums of a legion of prima donnas. He has an interesting answer as to why he plays the right thing - "It comes from God. You just close your eyes and let him take over".

A peace loving man who, when once threatened with violence in a neighbourhood bar, retorted "You don't really want to know how hard a drummer can hit...". Those who have stood close to Chester Thompson when he's performing a drum solo and watched the kit buckle under the onslaught would agree.

Adaptation to everyone else's requirements would have threatened the sanity of a lesser man but Chester had a special gift, a voice all of his own, a divine promise and will win you over with the genuine warmth of his music. "A Joyful Noise" is a direct quote from the scriptures by this master of his art.

www.camino.co.uk



Few contemporary jazz drummers attempt to become solo artists, but the ones who have—Alex Acuna, Dave Weckl and Danny Gottlieb, for example—have succeeded quite well. Add Thompson to the list of those who have an amazing knack for melody and who know how to surround themselves with good players. A Joyful Noise is an appropriate title for this disc, which ranks as one of the most pleasurable contemporary jazz players of the early 90s. The energy level is high with the tropical jaunts of the first two cuts and keeps going throughout, climaxing with the R&B licks of "Jussa Thang" and "Cool Groove" be fore coolingdown with a rich and rewarding rendition of "Amazing Grace." A drummer's albums sometimes feature too much "in your face" slamming, but Thompson uses restraint. When the percussive all-skin "Drums are Loud" arrives, therefore, it's an interesting interlude. Only the title cut is a little corny; it's a pretty melody, but the choir like vocals seem a bit sentimental. No matter, this is one serious party disc. "Amazing Grace" sums up the spirit of all the joyful noises present.

Jonathan Widran - All Music Guide



Chester Thompson has one impressive resume. Frank Zappa, Genesis, Carlos Santana, Steve Winwood, Phil Collins, Jaco Pastorius have all been more than ably backed by drummer extrodanaire Chester Thompson. One downside to backing so many diverse acts is being able to establish a sound of your own. On A Joyful Noise, Thompson attempts just that, with mixed results. No doubt, he is a skilled percussionist, but playing and writing music are two different things. Some of the tracks on A Joyful Noise are pure jazz joy, "Tropical Sunday", "So-Soka" and "Drums Are Loud" are feel-good, toe tapping cuts that survive repeated listenings. Other tracks lack a definitive sound to be tolerable for more than a few plays - the album ending version of "Amazing Grace", while tastefully done, does nothing to add to the legions of artists that have performed this old standard. I enjoy the album, but was looking for something more that gave spotlight to Thompson's kit prowess. Alas, this is a midde of the road, smooth jazz album that while pleasant enough, is not indicative of the musicianship Thompson has displayed in his previous associations.



Making a Joyful Noise" – Chester Thompson's debut solo album A Joyful Noise.

Well, a little late, this one, originally released in the USA way back in 1991, fans in Europe and the UK can now have the chance to catch up with Chester's first solo offering through the auspices of Steve Hackett's record label: Camino Records.

Chester's talents on the drum kit are well enough known to fans of Genesis to not need restating here, so what does his solo work bring to our knowledge of Chester Thompson the "drummer's drummer"? Well, quite a lot actually as we shall see..

Tropical Sunday opens the album with a funkified reggae style groove which definitely conjures up palm trees and a glorious sunset, certainly a "Joyful Noise" to start the proceedings with. This, in turn is followed by So Soka which, to my ears at least, is definitely reminiscent of Level 42 at their best. Peewee Hill's bass drives the rhythm along nicely and if that doesn't get your toes tapping, you are either deaf or dead - or probably both!

Homeland reminds us exactly what elements of drama Chester always brought to both Genesis and Phil's shows; a stirring rhythmic soundscape which conjures up the magnificence of Africa. Drums are loud is an obvious statement to make but here Chester shows exactly the various shades of the percussive instrument to great effect. The album's title track; A Joyful Noise follows and is indeed just that: with a glorious Gospel styled chorus andpiano accompaniment. This is in turn followed by the deliciously Caribbean styled Chunky which I can imagine had everyone "getting down" and grooving to when it was being recorded, the bass is simply infectious and wonderful!

Jussa Thang is am ore rockier track with some marvellous brass work from Harry Kim amongst others and his is definitely a track which Mr Collins would approve of. Cool Grove is definitely the late night cabaret number complete with stylish piano break and sassy trumpet chorus, and the contrast between this and the next track; Raw couldn't be any more complete, this one is a bass slapfest galore accompanied by a wonderfully understated keyboard part by George Duke no less!

Addatude is a mid-paced soul styled number which leads into the final track: Amazing Grace a langorous sax-driven blues version which brings the album to a highly satisfying conclusion - Amen, Hallelujah!

So, there you have it folks, if you didn't think that Chester could do it on his own, this album will persuade you otherwise. Musically it is as accomplished and lush as you would expect from such a demanding performer and if you like your music with a little more "Swing" to it, then this one is definitely for you!

Reviewed by Alan Hewitt
 

 L y r i c s


Instrumental!

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