FIVE THINGS You SHould KNOW ABOUT
Chester Thompson

November 16, 2021 | by Rusty Aceves

Chester Thompson

We can’t wait for the return of Hammond organ master Chester “CT” Thompson and his band next Friday, 11/26. He’s an artist who has lived a charmed musical life, working extensively in the worlds of R&B, rock and jazz with many of the greatest names in music. Here are just five of the many things you should know about the keyboardist and composer:

1. The Oklahoma City native began playing piano at age five, eventually playing both piano and organ in church. He discovered jazz at 13, and by 16 was playing organ exclusively. Working with various bands around the area, he was discovered by veteran Los Angeles saxophonist Rudy Johnson, who took the young keyboardist on the road, playing countless gigs on the Chitlin’ Circuit over three years.
2. Arriving in the Bay Area in 1969, Thompson worked with stalwart San Francisco saxophonist Jules Broussard before forming his own quartet including saxophonist Rudolph Johnson, trombonist Al Hall (Freddie Hubbard, Johnny Hammond), and the aptly-named Raymond Pounds (Stevie Wonder, Blue Mitchell) on drums. He released his 1971 debut Powerhouse on the iconic Black Jazz label — a recording that became an instant classic and remains highly collectible, with pristine original copies fetching upwards of $150.
3. The organist served a 10-year stint with Oakland funk phenomenon Tower of Power beginning in 1973, composing most of the band’s classic instrumental tunes including “Squib Cakes,” “Ebony Jam,” and “Walkin’ Up Hip Street.” He appeared on nine of the band’s seminal 70s albums on the Warner Brothers and Columbia/Epic labels including Tower of Power, Back to Oakland, Urban Renewal, and In the Slot.
4. Joining fold in early 1983, Thompson recorded eight albums over his 26 years with Santana. Highlights of his tenure include co-writing and co-producing their landmark 1987 instrumental recording Blues For Salvador along with it’s GRAMMY-winning title track, and his foundational contributions to their 1999 commercial zenith Supernatural, which sold over 30 million copies and won nine GRAMMY awards including Album of the Year.
5. Upon leaving Santana in 2009, Thompson dove headlong back into jazz and released his 2012 follow-up to Powerhouse, entitled Mixology, featuring Bay Area saxophone great Howard Wiley, former Tower of Power drummer Ron E. Beck, and Herbie Hancock/Head Hunters drummer Mike Clark. Released on KCSM radio personality Pete Fallico’s organ-centric Doodlin’ Records, Mixology includes fresh originals, covers of classics from Wayne Shorter, Woody Shaw, and Stanley Turrentine, a new take on Thompson's “Mr. T” from Powerhouse, and a live version of his iconic Tower of Power composition “Squib Cakes.”

Chester Thompson performs November 26 in Miner Auditorium at the SFJAZZ Center.

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Originally posted September 25, 2019