Tonight 8.00 pm cet Alex bee exploration of jazz

Tonight we bring you Toots Thielmans From Brussel Belgium with some classics Blues and Jazz Get ready for a travel around the world of jazz. dont miss it on www.easygroovesradio.com

At the age of three Thielemans began to learn the accordion, at seventeen he discovered the chromatic harmonica and from 1940 began to play the guitar, following the example of Django Reinhardt. During his mathematics studies he performed in GI clubs in Belgium. As early as 1950 he was a member of Benny Goodman's All-Star Band for the duration of their European tour. In 1951 he went on a concert tour with Bobbejaan. In 1952 he emigrated to the United States. In Philadelphia he was a member of the Charlie Parker All Stars. From 1953 to 1959 he was a member of George Shearing's quintet (he is partially credited on recordings as John Tillman). In 1957 he recorded his debut album Man Bites Harmonica! under his own name (with Pepper Adams and Kenny Drew). With Bluesette he composed and played one of the great success melodies from the field of jazz, with which he had his breakthrough. Herb Alpert recorded a Thielemans composition, Ladyfingers, for his best-known album Whipped Cream & Other Delights in 1965.[4]

He can also be heard in films such as Asphalt Cowboy, The Getaway, Sugarland Express, Looking for Mr. Goodbar, Hard Rain or French Kiss and in the TV production Sesame Street. He also played his harmonica on the Bill Evans album Affinity (1978). In addition, Thielemans has played with Ella Fitzgerald, Quincy Jones, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Jaco Pastorius and many others. In the 1980s he often performed in all-star formations around Dizzy Gillespie. In the 1990s he performed at numerous festivals with Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil. Even at the age of over 90, he still gave concerts regularly, but announced on March 13, 2014 that he would end his career. Two performances that had already been planned for March and May in Antwerp have been cancelled.[5]

As a jazz harmonica player he had the greatest influence, for example on Hermine Deurloo from the Netherlands and many other modern harmonica jazz players. Thielemans, who also taught at the Manhattan School of Music, also taught students like Tim Welvaars and Enrico Granafei.

He got his nickname Toots from Toots Mondello and Toots Camarata.