One of my favourite musicians is Oscar Peterson, the jazz pianist, especially when he recorded under The Oscar Peterson Trio moniker. Ray Brown played bass and the drummer was Ed Thigpen.
So it was a real thrill for me to walk past Ed Thigpen’s grave the other day, here in Copenhagen, completely by accident. I knew he died a couple of years ago, but didn’t know he was buried around the corner to where I now live. I bought another Oscar Peterson record today, at the brilliant Sound Station on Gammel Kongevej, featuring of course Ed Thigpen.

He’s buried at Denmark’s largest cemetery, the Vestre Cemetary near Enghave station. I’m sure it would come across as mawkish for me to admit that it’s nice to think of such a great musician resting not far from my home – maybe if I open the window on a quiet day next time I have some Ed on the stereo, I might put a smile on his face.