Eddie Thompson born 31 May 1925

Edgar Charles Thompson, known professionally as Eddie Thompson (31 May 1925 – 6 November 1986) was a British jazz pianist. 

Thompson was born blind in Shoreditch, London, England. He attended the same school for the blind (Linden Lodge, Wandsworth), as George Shearing and was introduced to jazz through listening to the family radio and listening to Fats Waller, Earl Hines, and especially Art Tatum. By 1947 he was part of the London jazz scene and was able to supplement his jazz income, always precarious, with a career as a piano tuner. In the late 1940's he recorded with Johnny Dankworth and a very young Victor Feldman. 

Eddie with Tommy Whittle's band

In 1949 he played at the Paris Jazz Fair with Carlo Krahmer band and worked for a time with Victor Feldman's Sextet. He had his own quintet and trio during the early 1950s and also worked with Tony Crombie, Freddy Randall, Vic Ash, Ronnie Scott and Tommy Whittle (1957/8). At the end of the 1950s he again had his own trio and quintet. He was house pianist at Ronnie Scott's 1959-60 and also did solo work at the Downbeat Club, London during 1960 before emigrating to the USA in 1962. He secured a residency at the Hickory House between 1963-67 and made many musical friendships including Duke Ellington, Erroll Garner, and Thelonious Monk. He also performed at various clubs and recorded as leader and soloist. 

Thompson returned to the London area in 1972 for regular BBC Jazz Club gigs, and he recorded for the German BASF label and Doug Dobell's 77 label. He toured as a soloist, in a duo with Roger Kellaway and with his trio, visiting the USA, Australia. New Zealand and Europe. He played regularly at the Pizza Express in London. He regularly travelled up to Stockport on Fridays, with his dog of course. During the day he would perform piano tuning at Nield and Hardy's, one of the two major musical instrument stores in the town. Just round the corner from the store was the Warren Buckley pub and beneath was a jazz cellar where Eddie (with dog under the piano) played during the evening with two local musicians making up the trio. One notable evening touring American greats, Al Grey and Buddy Tate who was deputising for Jimmy Forrest, played a memorable session with Eddie's trio. 

                             

He made further recordings in 1978, 1980 and 1983 including When Lights Are Low and Memories Of You.. He performed on television and radio and played frequently at various clubs in London. Eddie's strength other than his prodigious technique was that he knew literally hundreds of tunes with a preference for Gershwin. 

He also had the ability, when he felt it necessary, to drop into the style of his heroes Garner, Peterson, and Nat ColeHe was a frequent first choice for accompanying visiting US musicians until the mid 1980s. He was at home playing mainstream or bop and possessed a prodigious technique and the ability, when he felt it necessary, to drop into the style of his heroes Garner, Peterson, and Nat Cole. Although blind he travelled to evening work in London clubs by the Underground, and also to clubs throughout the UK. 

Derek Sheinwald who knew Eddie for many years and played drums at times for him recollected "Eddie always wore a waistcoat, 4 pockets, Jacket 3 pockets, Trousers 2 pockets. why?   Ha'penny- Penny - Theepenny piece - sixpence - Shilling - Florin - Half Crown - Ten shilling note - Pound note. each distributed in order that when purchasing (for example drinks at a bar) he could offer exact money and not hold his hand out for change which if not given carefully could scatter. 

Due to a lifelong smoking habit, he developed emphysema which contributed to his early death on 6th November, 1986, at the age of 61. At the time of his death he was noted as being at "the height of his powers" as well as having a considerable musical repertoire.

(Edited from Wikipedia, New Grove Dictionary of Jazz & Henry Bebop)