Barbara Thompson’s Paraphernalia

“Thompson’s formidable instrumental skills encompassed a tenor-saxophone voice that could range from the sensuous lyricism of Coleman Hawkins or Stan Getz to the power of John Coltrane’s turbulent soliloquies; nimble bebop fluency on the alto sax; and a dulcet-to-abstract tonal range on the flute.”

Barbara Thompson Obituary, The Guardian, John Fordham, 28 July 2022

Barbara Thompson MBE is a virtuoso saxophonist, composer and bandleader whose career spanned five decades. Despite her battle with Parkinson’s Disease, Barbara’s vast career has seen her perform, compose and lead on many projects including The New Jazz Orchestra, The United Jazz & Rock Ensemble, Jubiaba, Paraphernalia, Andrew Lloyd-Webber productions and Colosseum. She is considered a pioneering composer for the saxophone and was part of a luxuriant crop of new jazz composers in the 1960s: Mike Westbrook, Neil Ardley, Graham Collier, Mike Taylor, Michael Garrick and several more. Within a few years, Barbara would be among the most eminent of them, and by far the most prolific.

Use the icons above to navigate to her website, social media and spotify pages. View Paraphernalia releases below and click here for details of her 14Disc boxset ‘Live At The BBC’.