Jazz harmonica great Toots Thielemans dies at 94 in Belgium.

[forest444]

Source: MSN

Belgian harmonica player Toots Thielemans, whose illustrious career included playing with jazz greats like Miles Davis and whose solos have figured on numerous film scores, has died. Thielemans died in his sleep in a Belgian hospital on Monday, his manager said. He was 94.

Born in Brussels on April 29, 1922, Jean-Baptiste Frederic Isidore Thielemans started playing the harmonica as a hobby and got "contaminated" by the jazz virus during the German occupation, according to his website.

His first international breakthrough came in 1950 when he joined Benny Goodman on a European concert tour. He emigrated to the U.S. in 1952, joining Charlie Parker's All Stars, and later played with Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Paul Simon, and Billy Joel. His harmonica solos figure on many film scores, including Midnight Cowboy, The Getaway, and Sugarland Express, and also on the theme music to the children's TV series Sesame Street.

Thielemans, who also played guitar, was honored by Belgium's royal family in 2001, when King Albert II gave him the title of baron. The U.S. National Endowment for the Arts granted him the 2009 Jazz Master Award. Belgium's royal family said it was "deeply moved by (the) passing away of Toots Thielemans, one of the greatest jazzmen."

On the liner notes of one album, Quincy Jones said that "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."

Read more: http://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/jazz-harmonica-great-toots-thielemans-dies-at-94-in-belgium/ar-BBvU4AD?ocid=ansmsnent11&OCID=ansmsnnews11

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[Brickbat]

1. RIP Toots. His work on Sesame Street is still a favorite.

[forest444]

3. So pretty. He really knew how to capture the mood no matter what the setting.

Toots was also a favorite of the legendary Jazz radio host Bob Parlocha, who passed away last year.

When the sun went down in L.A. you could almost always count on Bob to play Footprints at or near the top of the set, as if to introduce the show for the evening. What memories.

[BumRushDaShow]

11. As a side note

The son of the original "Gordon" (Matt Robinson) from Sesame Street was in my 3rd grade class. I remember the teacher announcing to the class that Matt (Jr.) was leaving to go to New York City with his family because his father was going to be in a new show called "Sesame Street"! His younger sister (who I didn't know since she was much younger and only a couple years old at the time) is Holly Robinson-Peete.

[forest444]

12. Small world isn't it!

What a memory.

I can't say I've met any of the cast or crew (that I know of); but I remember the day Matt Robinson passed away because a number of GOP talking heads were parroting the same line: that "Public Television would soon follow."

Fucking pod people, they are.

Anyway, thank you for sharing that BRDS. It's always nice to read an anecdote like that; gives you a vicarious enjoyment, you might say.

[BumRushDaShow]

14. Particularly remember Matt

because he had a big J5 fro before it was in fashion.

It's so sad what they have done to the CTW and Public Broadcasting in general. This is something that we have to take back. All the amazing jazz (and other cultural) performances that PBS would air introduced a couple generations to something other than the drivel that is often on TV nowadays.

[forest444]

15. And I think it's making something of a comeback.

Personally I think it's a great look for African American guys, and it's definitely a statement; although one sometimes wonders if it's at all comfortable in these heat waves we've been having (who knows? Maybe it is!).

And yes, one of the things I dislike most about the GOP is their irrational hatred of Public Television - even in today's very watered-down, non-political form.

The days of Bill Moyers' watershed documentaries are long gone, sadly.

[BumRushDaShow]

18. It definitely is

The 'fro has cycled back in...

One thing that is heartening though - the internet has captured and stored a lot of the PBS documentaries and series. The fact that you found that one on youtube is a testament to the power of the internet. The hope is that all of that doesn't get purged somehow!

[forest444]

20. Hear, hear.

We are indeed fortunate to still have the internet there as the great research - and entertainment - resource that it is.

I suspect that among the many shady clauses in the TPP and TiSA, are ways to severely limit our access to internet content (probably by rescinding Fair Use rights under the guise of "copyright" protections or some such).

Qué será.

[kooth]

2. RIP Toots ...

This is truly a sad day for musicians and other music lovers. Toots was simply the best!

[8 track mind]

4. aw man.....

|


this song filled my childhood

[forest444]

6. Another great loss. Excellent find!

Mancini passed away a while ago, of course (1994); but I remember the news like it was yesterday because my mother is a big fan of his. Some years later, she gave me most of her Mancini record collection - although I don't believe I have that one.

Check out his arrangement of the M.A.S.H. theme:

[BumRushDaShow]

8. I think I still have the piano sheet music to that somewhere

I hear ya about that song!

[BumRushDaShow]

5. Wow wow wow.

I can't even begin to name all the contributions that he has made over many decades. I knew he was still around and was up there in age but you just always hope they will be around forever.

Quincy Jones featured him on the Smackwater Jack album (that I have) - this song Brown Ballad

Him live with Quincy -

R.I.P. and I hope that the use of the harmonica (outside of Stevie Wonder) does not go away with your passing.

[forest444]

7. Amazing. Thank you for that.

I understand the harmonica is making something of a comeback in Jazz. My favorite is probably Hendrik Meurkens:

[BumRushDaShow]

9. His famous "Bluesette"

Live -

The man had a "sound". It's just unmistakably beautiful.

[forest444]

10. Bookmarked.

For all those days we would rather put behind us, right?

Last but not least, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention his rendition of Wave. I couldn't find his version of Triste, which would have really been the icing on the cake. Qué será.

[BumRushDaShow]

13. He plays on this one

[forest444]

16. That's a beautiful one - but I was hoping to find his version of Triste, the Bossa Nova tune.

You might remember the one; it was sometimes billed as 'Sad is to Live in Solitude'. YOOGE Bossa Nova hit in its day (early '70s).

I can just hear Toots playing the refrains to this one:

[BumRushDaShow]

17. My dad had a stack of Stan Getz records

including this (from 1962) where Getz did a cover of that song -

Still have the stack. I thought the covers on that '60s series were cool when I was little (and even today) - variations of paintings.

Love that Bossa Nova!

[forest444]

19. Ah! You're a woman of taste, BRDS - as was your dad.

Everything about those Verve Bossa Nova records was sublime, from the music to the album covers. If you're ever in L.A. check out Amoeba Records on Sunset and Cahuenga; they have always have at least one copy of each of those (and almost anything you're looking for, really).

Going back to Toots, I just now recalled that he lent his talents - harmonica and whistling - to what I consider to be one of the great, underappreciated films of the '70s: Chilly Scenes of Winter. Really captures the feeling of unrequited love (happens to all of us, right?).

Take a look:

[BumRushDaShow]

23. Bookmarked!

Will check that out (another thanks to the internet)!! And I'm a lady.

And since you mentioned whistling - that is a dying art. Hope that there are some hidden whistlers out there passing on the craft!

[forest444]

24. Yikes! I beg your pardon!

I just edited the post accordingly.

Thank you for all your insights, m'am. You've made this one of my best, most memorable days here on DU.

[BumRushDaShow]

25. 'Salright!

Has been an enjoyable conversation!!!!

[saidsimplesimon]

28. Memories

thanks for sharing

[Omaha Steve]

21. Urbie Green - The Fox

One of the best LP's to come out of CTI! I have almost ALL of them.

OS

Tracklist
A1 Another Star 7:15
A1 Goodbye 2:57
A3 Mertensia 4:58
A4 You Don't Know What Love Is 3:58
B1 Manteca 6:35
B2 Foxglove Suite 7:29
B3 Please Send Me Someone To Love 5:37
Credits
Arranged By – David Matthews*
Bass [Acoustic] – George Mraz (tracks: A1, B1)
Bass [Electric] – Anthony Jackson (tracks: A1, A3 to A4, B2 to B3)
Design [Album] – Rene Schumacher
Drums – Andy Newmark (tracks: A3, B2 to B3), Jimmy Madison (tracks: A1, B1)
Engineer – Rudy Van Gelder
Flute – Jeremy Steig (tracks: A1, B1)
Guitar – Eric Gale (tracks: A3, B2 to B3)
Harmonica – Toots Thielemans (tracks: A2, A4, B3)
Percussion – Nicky Marrero (tracks: A2, A4), Sue Evans (tracks: A1, B1)
Percussion [Footsteps] – David Matthews* (tracks: A4)
Photography By [Cover] – White Gate
Photography By [Liner] – White Gate
Piano – Fred Gripper (tracks: A3, B2 to B3), Mike Abene* (tracks: A2)
Producer – Creed Taylor
Saxophone [Soprano] – Joe Farrell (tracks: A3)
Synthesizer – Barry Miles (tracks: A1, B1)
Trombone – Urbie Green
Vibraphone [Vibes] – Mike Mainieri (tracks: A2, A4, B2)
Whistle – Toots Thielemans (tracks: A2, A4)
Notes
Gatefold, LP housed in company dust sleeve. Recorded at Van Gelder Studios in July, October and November of 1976.

[forest444]

22. Mellow and golden. Unbelievable!

Thanks for sharing this, Steve. Another bookmark, definitely.

[saidsimplesimon]

29. Thank you Omaha Steve

excellent choices.

[dhol82]

26. Saw him play at the Blue Note several times

Truly amazing talent.

[forest444]

30. What a memory.

I'm green with envy, dhol82!

[dhol82]

31. Indeed

Always looked forward to his performances.
He often played with Kenny Werner - a truly magnificent piano virtuoso.
Good memories.

[saidsimplesimon]

27. Musians like him are the

reason Jazz still thrives in Europe, if not the US. My condolences to his friends, family and admirers.

[forest444]

33. Well said.

Jazz has lost a lot greats recently - Toots, Booby Hutcherson, Pete Fountain, Donald Byrd, Ornette Coleman, and others. The living legends are dwindling down to a few; and while there's always a new generation, somehow it's not the same without the old giants.

[Paka]

32. K&R

Thank you for the post and the others who added their favorites. Listening to all this great music will make my morning.

[forest444]

34. You're welcome as always, Paka. Glad you enjoyed them all.

I find these musical trips down memory lane some of the most rewarding threads on DU, and this one was certainly no exception.