Vance Thompson is a Grammy-nominated jazz artist, vibraphonist, composer, arranger and the founding director of the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra, a professional big band based in Tennessee. Under his leadership the group has performed internationally at the Montreux Jazz Festival and Jazz a Vienne, released acclaimed recordings and collaborated with dozens of top tier artists such as Hank Jones, Monty Alexander, John Clayton, Stefon Harris, Kirk Whalum and many others.

His latest album, Lost and Found, was heralded by The Times of London as “a joyous, jubilant portrait of musical rebirth,” and an “irresistible album.” Thompson enjoyed a successful career as a trumpeter for many years before a medical issue forced him to change course. Discovering the vibraphone provided a new lease on musical life. 

Jack Bowers, writing for All About Jazz, had this to say: “what is most remarkable is that Thompson sounds like he has been playing the vibraphone all his life….While regret for what Thompson lost is understandable, delight in what he found is even more appropriate, especially in light of this remarkable illustration of his composure and endurance. As Sinatra once sang, there are times when things can be ‘even lovelier, the second time around.’” 

Recent milestones include Thompson’s Grammy-nominated performance on trumpet (What If, Jerry Douglas Band), arranging for the 2023 Grammy-winning (Best Large Ensemble) Count Basie Orchestra album, “Basie Swings the Blues” and celebrating 25 years as a professor of Jazz Trumpet at the University of Tennessee’s College of Music.

As a big band arranger, Thompson has written commissions for Monty Alexander, Carmen Bradford, Cyrus Chestnut, Doc Severinsen and many others. To check out arrangements that Vance has available for purchase, click here.

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