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Rich Thompson: Who Do You Have to Know?

By Dan McClenaghan
March 26, 2023
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The title of drummer Rich Thompson's 2023 release is Who Do You Have To Know?. The answer to that:

John Bishop

drums
b.1959

" data-original-title="" title="">John Bishop and

" data-original-title="" title="">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 terrific, jazz artists. Thompson has released four albums of his own on Origin, including the first-rate, Triocity: I Believe In You (2016), featuring bassist

Jeff Campbell

bass
b.1963

" data-original-title="" title="">Jeff Campbell and multiple-reedist

Charles Pillow

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Charles Pillow.

What we have with Who Do You Have To Know? is an organ trio outing—groove in the forefront—with a bass onboard, making it a quartet. Adding a string bass to the format is always a good idea; the organ never quite adds the heft and crispness to the bottom end that the bass supplies. The set includes a pair of Thompson originals, three tunes from the pens of the group's guitarist,

Corey Christiansen

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Corey Christiansen, along with guitarist

John Scofield

guitar
b.1951

" data-original-title="" title="">John Scofield's "Grey and Visceral," and compositions by

Sonny Rollins

saxophone
b.1930

" data-original-title="" title="">Sonny Rollins, Antonio Carlos Jobim,

Billy Strayhorn

piano
1915 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">Billy Strayhorn and

Wes Montgomery

guitar
1923 - 1968

" data-original-title="" title="">Wes Montgomery.

The phrase that comes to mind on a second or third spin of Who Do You Have To Know? is "perfection of execution." These are well-crafted, precision pieces of music coming together to make a "buffed to a high polish" whole. Artists like pianist

Bill Charlap

piano
b.1966

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill Charlap do the same thing. He and his group play perfectly, without sacrificing emotion, soul or a spirit of joy in the effort. Rich Thompson and his quartet are right there with them in this regard.

So if the ensemble dynamic is so good, does any one player stand out? Yes. Guitarist Corey Christiansen always seems to be standing in line for that "Artist Deserving Wider Recognition" award, having released a handful of fine albums on Origin Records, including the excellent Outlaw Tractor (2010) and Roll With It (2008), both top of the line organ jazz outings, like Who Do I Have To Know?.

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Track Listing

Who Do You Have to Know?; Street Cred; Gray and Visceral; Why Don't I; With You; What a Wonderful World; Wave; A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing; Fried Pies.

Personnel

Rich Thompson

drums

Corey Christiansen

guitar

Bobby Floyd

organ, Hammond B3

Peter Chwazik

bass

Album information

Title: Who Do You Have to Know? | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: Origin Records

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