We are very thankful to be able to bring in Vance Thompson’s fantastic quintet as a special Sunday afternoon jazz matinee. Some of you may see a familiar face from prior performances at Barking Legs, but the mallets are throwing you off. We have known Vance as a trumpeter, but he has rechanneled his jazz skills to the vibraphone. Pretty impressive and pretty inspiring, but the full story will have to wait.

Vance is the founder of the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra, and his Knoxville-based quartet features Taber Gable on piano, Ken Brown on drums and Taylor Coker on bass. Bringing it to the quintet configuration is guitarist Steve Kovalcheck, who is something of a legend, now based in Colorado.

I was lucky enough to hear a slightly different version of this quartet during a live recording session for Vance’s album, Lost and Found, last year. Bringing this quintet to Barking Legs is really a treat for Chattanooga.

The Times of London. Four Stars. “[Lost and Found] is a joyous, jubilant portrait of musical rebirth that chimes with the rest of this irresistible album. In that sense, it’s very special. Just like its remarkable creator.”