* En anglais uniquement
Best-known to the public for his one-time regular gig with
Doc Severinsen's Tonight Show band,
Tompkins is a versatile, swinging pianist with a do-everything technique who is much in demand on the Los Angeles jazz scene. After studying at the New England Conservatory, he moved to New York, recording with
Kai Winding and playing at times with
Eric Dolphy (1964),
Wes Montgomery (1966), the
Bob Brookmeyer/
Clark Terry quintet (1966), and
Benny Goodman (1968). He also played with
Bobby Hackett from 1965 to 1970 and the
Al Cohn/
Zoot Sims quintet (1968-1972).
Tompkins moved to Los Angeles in 1971, where he played with the
Louie Bellson big bands and joined the Tonight Show band, remaining until
Johnny Carson left the show in 1992. His most frequent appearances on records were as a leader and sideman for Concord Jazz in the 1970s, including a gig with
Joe Venuti, Live at Concord '77, and a session with
Red Norvo, Red and Ross. ~ Richard S. Ginell