Why Weep – Eli "Lucky" Thompson
A medium-up minor blues head in Lucky Thompson's signature warm, elegant style. There are a few two-part harmonies which are shown in our lead sheets.
- Recording: Lucky Thompson - Lucky Thompson And His Orchestra
- Recorded on: April 5, 1956
- Label: French Columbia (FP 1083)
- Concert Key: F minor
- Style: Swing (medium up)
- Tenor Sax - Lucky Thompson, Guy Lafitte
- Piano - Martial Solal
- Bass - Benoit Quersin
- Drums - Roger Paraboschi
Video
- Lucky Thompson's WHY WEEP, performed at the Club St. Germain, Paris, France, May 28, 1960. Lucky Thompson, tenor sax; Pierre Michelot, bass; Kenny Clarke, drums.
This minor blues head is full of classic Lucky Thompson vocabulary, combining blues-scale lines with the "pretty" notes of the chords—6ths and 9ths. Unlike many of Lucky's blues, this one has standard minor blues changes without added passing chords. However, on the 7th measure the rhythm section sometimes implies D♭7, going to F minor in the next measure; this certainly lines up with the melody.
There is an eight-measure piano intro on the recording, not shown in our lead sheet. The second chorus of the in head ends with a two-measure solo break; on the recording, the rhythm section keeps playing until the second to last measure, but it could work just as well with both measures being a break. The ending holds out an unresolved C7(♯9).
The horns play unison for most of the head, going to tight harmonies (thirds and seconds) only on the last melody phrase. Because this is the only place with harmony, we have decided to include it in our lead sheet instead of having first and second parts.
There is an eight-measure piano intro on the recording, not shown in our lead sheet. The second chorus of the in head ends with a two-measure solo break; on the recording, the rhythm section keeps playing until the second to last measure, but it could work just as well with both measures being a break. The ending holds out an unresolved C7(♯9).
The horns play unison for most of the head, going to tight harmonies (thirds and seconds) only on the last melody phrase. Because this is the only place with harmony, we have decided to include it in our lead sheet instead of having first and second parts.
Lucky Thompson played Why Weep again on a TV broadcast when he returned to Paris (where this 1956 album was recorded) in 1960. This piano-less trio version, with Pierre Michelot on bass and Kenny Clarke on drums, was mistakenly announced as You Move, You Lose on the program—the title of another song also originally recorded on "Lucky Thompson And His Orchestra." Later in 1960, he played another version of Why Weep on a German TV broadcast; this quartet recording features a different, written intro.
For another F minor blues that Lucky Thompson recorded in Paris in 1956, check out A Minor Delight.
For another F minor blues that Lucky Thompson recorded in Paris in 1956, check out A Minor Delight.
Eli "Lucky" Thompson
June 16, 1923 – July 30, 2005
Saxophonist Lucky Thompson is one of the great treasures of jazz. He was born in Columbia, South Carolina, but was raised in Detroit, Michigan. He played in local groups with Hank Jones, Sonny Stitt and others. In August, 1943, when he was 19, he left Detroit with Lionel Hampton's Orchestra, eventually arriving in New York City. Still a teenager, his first recording date was with Hot Lips Page on March 18, 1944. Later in 1944 he started recording with both Lucky Millinder and Count Basie. Read more...