Lucky Thompson was one of the great tenor sax players to emerge during the 1940s, and one of the first "modern" soprano saxophonists, taking up the instrument prior to John Coltrane and around the same time as Steve Lacy. Although his large tone looked toward the swing era, Thompson's advanced improvising fit in well with bop players, and he was hired as "insurance" by Dizzy Gillespie in case Charlie Parker did not show up. He cut many sessions during his stay in Los Angeles, performing with Boyd Raeburn and the short-lived Stars of Swing, and he led a band regularly at the Savoy from 1951 to 1953. In 1954, he starred on Miles Davis' famous Walkin' session, and was a top soloist with Stan Kenton (appearing on Cuban Fire); during the next two years he cut many sessions both as a leader and as a sideman.