Ed Thigpen
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Edmund Leonard (Ed) Thigpen (born December 28, 1930 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American jazz drummer.
His father Ben played drums with Andy Kirk. Ed's first job with a major orchestra was with Cootie Williams in 1951 and 1952. After working with Dinah Washington, Lennie Tristano, Johnny Hodges, Bud Powell, and Billy Taylor, he replaced guitarist Herb Ellis in the Oscar Peterson Trio in 1959 (Peterson's original Trio, modelled on Nat King Cole's, consisted of piano, guitar, and bass). He stayed with Peterson through 1965. After leaving Peterson, he recorded one album as a leader for Verve (Out Of The Storm, 1966). He then toured with Ella Fitzgerald from 1967 to 1972, after which he settled in Copenhagen. Since then he has taught, performed with a wide range of major artists, and recorded sessions as a leader. Thigpen is known for his artistry with wire brushes and has published several books on the subject.
