John Martyn ft. Danny Thompson - I Don't Want to Know About Evil

 John Martyn ft. Danny Thompson - I Don't Want to Know About Evil (Transatlantic Sessions 10.05.1996)

For Danny

and John

long gone now and missed as much

We will not see another Danny as much as we will never see another John Martyn

Legendary acoustic bassist Danny Thompson has died, aged 86

One of my all time heroes in music has passed in the legendary double bass player Danny Thompson who I imagine I first came across playing with Pentangle, Bert Jansch and then Nick Drake, John Martyn and of course Richard Thompson and bands. As you will note from the reaction of the music world there was really nobody who didn’t appreciate him and it often seems like it would be easier to mention a list of those he didn’t play with! A man and musician par excellence for whom the term legendary was of course so apposite for . . . . . 

some fellow musicians and favourites have written as follows

Gary Lucas shared this from: Alan Jones:

RIP Danny Thompson, whose bass you can hear on records by Nick Drake, Richard Thompson, Pentangle, John Martyn, Tim Buckley, Davey Graham, Donovan, Bert Jansch, Kate Bush, David Sylvian, Talk Talk, T Rex and more. A wonderful musician, but a borderline berserker when I turned up to interview John Martyn in Leeds in 1975 and found him and Martyn so far gone it was like they'd been drinking since at least the earth cooled, possibly longer. A fair amount of mayhem ensued. 

from the equally legendary producer and muso Joe Boyd

Danny Thompson was a giant, a virtuoso bassist with an endessly inventive musical imagination. His tone was like no other – warm but with an edge I never heard from another bassist. His joyful spirit and sense of humour energised recording sessions, inspiring everyone around him - musicians, singers, engineers and producers.

'Wotcher Joe!' I always had a spring in my step approaching the studio when Danny was on the session. He made Nick Drake laugh and teased Toumani Diabaté, and both adored playing with him. He was a Londoner through-and-through, a product of a fertile time in the city's musical history and a uniquely open-eared exception. He loved rhyming slang and was endlessly inventive with it, once demanding to know if I was going to pay him in 'Nelsons' (Eddys / readies) or with a 'Gregory' (Peck / cheque).

Danny was the proverbial one-off, a once-in-a-generation inovator and pioneer. He would never presume to use such words about himself, but for me he was the ultimate diamond geezer and I will miss him terribly.

From Kathryn Williams

So sad to hear the news that @therealdannythompson has moved on. From early John Martyn albums through to playing on stage at nick drake shows he’s been the low end constant in my musical life. Bass players like @jonthorneinsta are the lineage of what he carved. He was so down to earth and just did the thing that all artist have to do which is turn up and keep going, the music world has lost a true timeless great. He’s on so many records. I am so lucky that the track I wrote with @paulwellerhq SO QUIETLY  from supplement 66 was I think Danny’s last recording in the studio. Thank you you beautiful human x

From Paul Weller

To our dear, departed brother and mentor Danny Thompson.

We are going to miss you but we all feel blessed to have worked with you and to have known you. 

A true legend and giant of a man. 

Our thoughts are with his family and anyone who was lucky enough to have met Danny.

Thank you Danny Boy.

"Whoppers as ever!"

Gone, not gone.

PW

From Billy Bragg

Very sorry to hear that Danny Thompson, the great double bass player, has passed away. He’s one of those characters who can justifiably be described as legendary. He played on most of my Workers Playtime album. That’s his soulful double bass you can hear on ‘Must I Paint You A Picture’ and ‘Valentines Day Is Over’.

He had a wealth of great stories that kept us laughing through the hanging around waiting to play that makes up much of a musician’s life. 

When the drummer that producer Joe Boyd brought in proved unreliable, me and Wiggy convinced him to book Mickey Waller, who had played on our favourite Rod Stewart albums. While he was setting up his kit, Danny walked in and they started musing on when they had last worked together. After a bit of discussion they came to the conclusion that it was probably when they both played on ‘Maggie May’.

Listening in the control room Wiggy and I got a bit emotional. 

Rest in peace big fella.

UNCUT mag

OBITUARY

 

John Martyn and Danny Thompson - One World (Live in Germany 1986) | jt1674

 One World was a favourite of my brother's .  . . . . here live and dedicated to my Steve’s memory 

https://www.tumblr.com/jt1674/781381904897359872/john-martyn-and-danny-thompson-one-world

Mo’ PENTANGLE - ‘REFLECTION’ - Live in Belgium 1972

 Opening with Danny Thompson on bass ( the master ) 

With of course Bert Jansch, John Renbourn, Jacqui McShee, Terry Cox - five points of light as the are described here and rightly so . . . . . . one of the main reasons I left jazz proper and thought hang on a cotton picking minute! . . . . . 

This Belgian TV special from 1972 captures the band in all its glory as they work their way through six songs from the albums Solomon's Seal, and Reflection.

found here Le Ramasseur De Mégots 

PENTANGLE LIVE - OSLO, NORWAY 1968 - Floppy Boot Stomp

 

Pentangle - LIVE in Oslo 1968 - Floppy Boot Stomp

Totally classic British Folk rock band Pentangle at their absolute peak with every member a legend now in their own right. Bert Jansch, Danny Thompson, John Renbourn and Jacqui McShee. I needed to tweak it a bit on playback for when Jacqui sings on her own ( just set to emphasise the vocals on the equaliser is all) but this is prime quality given its age

Pentangle

Croatian Viewing Festival 

The Dolphin Club 

Masonic Building 

Oslo Norway 

1968-05-30

TV Broadcast @ 320

01. Introduction---Tuning

02. The Time Has Come

03. Mirage

04. A Woman Like You

05. Turn Your Money Green

06. Hear My Call

07. Haiaitian Fight Song

08. Let No Man Steal Your Thyme

09. Bells

10. Bruton Town

11. Travelling Song

12. Pentangling

Jacqui McShee - Vocals

Bert Jansch - Guitar

John Renbourn - Guitar

Danny Thompson - Bass

Terry Cox - Drums, Percussion