David Thompson

One of the good things about the northward migration of Bay Area folks is that sometimes we get some new artistic talent added to the Chico pot. One such recent addition is jazz pianist David Thompson (www.davidthompsonjazz.com). His latest CD, Utrecht, named for a city in the Netherlands, is a pleasing collection of mostly original tunes plus two standards, one, “Stella By Starlight,” done twice, once as a trio and once by Thompson solo. It is this second, solo version of “Stella” that most captures my attention, with its abbreviated left-hand chording and quick (and far) straying from the melody. Thompson’s trio is rounded out nicely by Bay Area bassist Bill Nelson and New York drummer Howard Oscar. Together they present a lushness of sound well suited for a romantic candlelit evening.