ONLY here on the official Jean Toots Thielemans MySpace you can enjoy three live recorded tracks:
Please listen to I'm Old Fashioned, a live recording mid June 2001 at the Biblo Jazz Club in Kalmthout (Belgium) with Kenny Werner (p) and Toots.
What a Wonderful World was recorded September, 27 - 2006 in Nieuwegein (The Netherlands) with Hein van de Geyn (db), Hans van Oosterhout (d) and Karel Boehlee (p).
The third exclusive song here on MySpace is No More Blues (Chega de Saudade) and that track was live recorded on September, 2 - 2005 in Tanglewood, Massachusetts (United States); together with Kenny Werner (p), Oscar Castro-Neves (g) and Airto Moreira (d).
Django Reinhardt, Charlie Parker, Benny Goodman, George Shearing, Ella Fitzgerald, Quincy Jones, Bill Evans, Jaco Pastorius, Natalie Cole, Pat Metheny, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Clifford Brown, ...
On November 22, 2007 the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Antwerp opened his renewed Toots' bar and restaurant. Toots, who stays often in his "personal suite" in this hotel, was honored by the fact that he was used as a source of inspiration for the decoration and the menu...
Toots' bio:
- Born: Brussels, Belgium 1922
- Immigrated: USA 1952
- Played accordion at age 3
- Started playing harmonica as a hobby
- First guitar won on a bet
- "Hooked" on Jazz during German occupation
- First idol: Django Reinhardt
- Early influence: Charlie Parker
- Nicknamed "Toots" after musicians Toots Mondello and Toots Camarata
- First international break through: Joining Benny Goodman on European concert tour in 1950
- Early US jobs: member of Charlie Parker's All Stars in Philadelphia; George Shearing Quintet; ...
- Composed "Bluesette", 1962
- Originated new sound: Whistling and guitar in unison
- Whistler for commercials: Best known "Old Spice"
- Harmonica soloist for film scores: Midnight Cowboy, The Getaway, Sugarland Express, Cinderella Liberty, Turks Fruit, Jean de Florette , ...
- Concerts and recordings with names like: George Shearing, Ella Fitzgerald, Quincy Jones, Bill Evans, Jaco Pastorius, Natalie Cole, Pat Metheny, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, ...
- Harmonica Soloist - TV: Sesame Street
- Perennial winner of Down Beat readers and critics poll "miscellaneous instruments"
- Favorite compliment (from the late Clifford Brown): "Toots, the way you play the harmonica they should not call it a miscellaneous instrument"
- "I can say without hesitation that Toots is one of the greatest musicians of our time. On his instrument he ranks with the best that jazz has ever produced. He goes for the heart and makes you cry. We have worked together more times than I can count and he always keeps me coming back for more ..." from Quincy Jones' liner notes Q's Jook Joint, 1995
P.S. And, to avoid disappointments: direct PERSONAL messages CAN NOT be delivered through MySpace. We are sorry! Consult for all contact details the above mentioned www.TootsThielemans.com. But, TOOTS tries to READ the below personal COMMENTS as much as possible! Of course it's hard to reply to them all... Do keep your PERSONAL messages for Toots coming, okay? Great, thanks!!! p.p. Toots' management Uncle Jazz, Dirk Godts ;-)
Dear Mr. Thielemans, thank you so much for your attention. And indeed, the best place to be is between a smile and a tear...isn't that what music is all about... My kindest regards, Sara de Ville
Dear master, i am really honored for your friendship and your kind words in my page. I enjoy as a fan your music since many years. God bless you. Teddy.
Hope the NSJF gig was enjoyable Toots! Wish I could have been there but had a prior engagement! No footage yet on youtube but will keep looking! Highest regards,Phil
