Don Thompson is not just an accomplished producer and studio owner; he is a seasoned musician with several decades of professional experience under his belt. Don’s musical journey began in Winnipeg in the late 1950s. Notably, he was a part of The Shondels, a Winnipeg rock ‘n’ roll band formed in 1959. The band was initiated by Mike Hanford (vocals, organ), Don Thompson (guitar), Jack Wong (bass), and Bob Hunter (drums). In 1965, they recorded “Shake A Tail Feather” for the independent label, Eagle Records. Due to its local success in Manitoba, Columbia Records took notice and signed the band. They followed up with hits like “Another Man” (peaking at #31 on the charts), “Last Night I Took A Walk,” and “I Take It Back” (reaching #50 on the charts).

Don also collaborated with his brothers in a band named “The Wiggy Symphony,” a Beatles tribute act. They made appearances on the CBC TV series “Let’s Go” and performed at numerous local venues. Around this period, Don spent significant time in the studio, recording many of the K-Tel albums of the 1970s. These albums, known for recreating music from world-renowned artists and selling them via TV commercials, allowed Don to refine his studio prowess.

After relocating to British Columbia, Don established a local band named TNT, which was soon rebranded as Face To Face. This band secured a spot on the local radio station C-Fox’s “Vancouver Seeds” album, which showcased top original local talents. This album featured two tracks co-written by Don: “Don’t Look Back” and “Mexico.” The former received commendable airplay. It was during the recording of “Don’t Look Back” at Pinewood Studios that Don built a rapport with industry stalwart Jeff Turner. This experience sharpened Don’s capabilities as an engineer and producer. Subsequently, he founded his own recording facility, “Studio 56” in Langley, where he worked with an array of talented artists from diverse genres.

It was at Studio 56 where Don envisioned, recorded, and produced his Jazz Project “After Four.”

His depth of understanding and talent in music has made him a celebrated figure in the industry. With a passion to preserve the soulful essence of live music, Thompson embarked on producing the “After Four” album with the Don Thompson Jazz Project. Inspired by the spontaneous recording methodology used in the iconic “Kind of Blue” by Miles Davis, Thompson’s deep musical roots were key in capturing raw and real musical expressions. “After Four” showcases an ensemble of award-winning musicians, including Jerry Adolphe, Miles Black, Miles Hill, Tom Keenlyside, Robbie Steininger, and Rene Worst. Recorded at Don’s Studio 56 using a 16-track analog machine, the album is a testament to Thompson’s commitment to originality and live performance. Embracing the essence of jazz, where every note contributes to the conversation, the tracks in “After Four” reveal the magic of improvisation and the unmatched expertise of Thompson as both a musician and a producer.