Toots Thielemans
Jean -Baptiste Frédéric Isidor, Baron Thielemans, known as " Toots " Thielemans ( born April 29, 1922 in Brussels, Belgium) is a Belgian composer, jazz harmonica player, guitarist and whistler. One of his most famous works as a composer is the background music of the U.S. children's television series Sesame Street.
Life and work
At the age of three years Thielemans started to learn accordion, at seventeen, he discovered the chromatic harmonica and began in 1940 to play along the lines of Django Reinhardt guitar. 1950 already he belonged for the duration of their European tour to Benny Goodman's All- Star Band. In 1951 he went on tour with Bobbejaan. In 1952 he emigrated to the United States. In Philadelphia, he was a member of Charlie Parker All Stars. From 1953 to 1959 he was one of the quintet of George Shearing (some of which he is listed as John Tillman on recordings ). Composed with Bluesette and he played one of the great success of tunes from the world of jazz. On the album Affinity by Bill Evans, he played his harmonica. In addition, Thielemans played with Ella Fitzgerald, Quincy Jones, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Jaco Pastorius and many others. As a jazz harmonica player, he had the greatest impact, for example on Hermione Deurloo from the Netherlands and many other modern harmonica jazz musicians. He can also be heard in the film Midnight Cowboy, as well as in the TV production Sesame Street. Even at the age of about 90 years, he was still performs regularly, but announced on March 13, 2014 to want to end his musical career. Two previously scheduled appearances in March and May in Antwerp was canceled.
Toots Thielemans was honored in 2004 for his lifetime achievement with the German Jazz Trophy. In 2009 he was awarded with the NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship, the highest honor for a jazz musician in the United States. He was raised by the Belgian King Albert II was created a Baron in 2001.
His nickname Toots Toots Mondello and he has by Toots Camerata.
Discography (selection)
- The Sound (Columbia, 1955)
- (as Jean Thielemans Man Bites Harmonica :) ( Riverside, 1958)
- Time Out for Toots ( Decca, 1958)
- Spotlight on Toots Thielemans ( Polydor, 1961)
- The Whistler and His Guitar (ABC, 1962)
- Too Much! Toots (Philips, 1965)
- With Elis Regina: Elis & Toots (Philips, 1969)
- Captured Alive ( Choice, 1974)
- With Bill Evans: Affinity ( Warner Bros., 1978)
- With Joe Pass and Niels -Henning Ørsted Pedersen: Live in the Netherlands ( Pablo, 1982)
- Shirley Horn Trio: For My Lady ( Gitanes, 1991)