Georg
Lankester gives his account of the career of Toots
Thielemans. The article is in two parts, below follows the first part, the
second is accessible here.
An exceptional Jazz musician and a genius on the harmonica - Part 1
 |
| Toots Thielemans |
On August 22nd 2016 this famous Belgian
artist passed away at the advanced age of 94 years. With his decease the Jazz
world looses a great musician and a sympathic human being. By all means a
reason to memorize his long career with plenty
of highlights.
Jean took the nickname “Toots”over from saxophonist
Nunzio Toots
Mondello and trumpet player Tutti Toots Carmalita. Only the harmonica
virtuoso, however, would spread this nickname all over the world, no doubt
about it.
An
early musical start
Jean
Babtiste Thielemans was born on April 29, 1922 in Brussels and
already began to play accordion when he was three years old. He used a simple
homemade instrument which was replaced by a genuine accordion a few years later. It was only in 1939 that he switched to the harmonica !
 |
| Harmonica |
At that time Jean studied mathematics, but he
spent more and more time playing on his new instrument which attracted him
strongly.
However, he
also took interest in the guitar after having heard Django
Reinhardt playing with the ‘Hot Club quintet’. After the Liberation he also bought a guitar and listening to
other guitar players, he exercised day after day until he could reproduce a solo of the American player Al Casey note by note. “Toots” did so in order to break away from
the gypsy style. By the way: Casey’s guitar solo can be found on an Esquire
record called “All American Jazz
Concert”.
Longing
for America
Just after World War II Jean is playing for American
soldiers in Belgium and in some surrounding countries. In 1947 he visits the
USA where, in New York, he is soon joining Jazz musicians in the 52nd Street.
That’s the place where he discovers the new bebop
style and also becomes friends with Charlie
Parker. Later, in 1949, they won
(together) a prize during the International Jazz Festival of Paris.
 |
| Benny Goodman and Toots switched instruments for the photo |
Not long afterwards he was engaged by Benny Goodman, ‘The King of Swing’ with
whom he made a tour through Europe in ‘50/51, an interesting experience.
Early 1951”Toots”- for a short time - also
joined the orchestra featuring the
popular Belgian artist Bobbejaan Schoepen.
Later that year he emigrated to the States and settled in New York. With lack of a musicians’
license he played for fun, taking part in the so-called “Birdland
Sessions” where he met many other bebop players.
 |
| George Shearing and Toots |
Quite soon he was engaged by Dinah Washington and several months
later asked to join the quartet of piano player George Shearing, which shows his musical versality. In a Begian
documentary “Toots” told that he there had to work hard and earned very little.
Every month he sent some money to his wife in NY; only after one year saving
they could afford to make a trip to Belgium.
A
surprising composition
At the beginning of the Sixties Jean formed
his own group and made several tours in Europa. He setlled for a short time in
Sandinavia where he played together with violinist Svend Asmussen and bass player Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen. His friendship with Asmussen would
always remain.
 |
| Printed music of Bluesette (click to enlarge) |
And then in 1962 he composed and recorded “Bluesette”, as he said, a combination
of Blues and Musette. Of this composition
more than 100 different versions were recorded and it made him instantly a
star. - Here is the original recording from 1962
Blowing the harmonica, whistling while
playing guitar, he surprised people all over the world. “Toots” remembered that
once playing this song with Stéphane
Grappelli, the latter was excited about the theme and improvised on it with
enthousiasm and in the right style.
Due to this success “Toots” was re-discovered
in the US and soon back there performing as an independant musician with more
and more interest in creating new kinds of music.
To be continued
Georg Lankester
---
Jo
keepitswinging.domain@gmail.com
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