Ed Thigpen

Ed Thigpen, a master of jazz brushes and a drummer of immense taste and subtlety, left an indelible mark on the world of jazz. Born in Chicago in 1930, Thigpen's musical lineage was rich, with his father, Ben Thigpen, being a highly regarded drummer in his own right. Ed Thigpen's career took off in the 1950s, with notable stints with the Billy Taylor trio from 1956 to 1959 and the Oscar Peterson trio from 1959 to 1965. His understated yet powerful style made him a favorite accompanist for jazz legends like Ella Fitzgerald. Thigpen's brush technique and articulate sense of pulse and swing set him apart, earning him the moniker "Mr. Taste." Throughout his career, Thigpen performed and recorded with some of the greatest names in jazz, and his influence can still be felt in the rhythm and swing of the genre today.