Re: [Harp-L] Toots Definitive CD Collection

[Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

No once CD or existing collection could possibility be "definitive" of the long and broad career of Toots Thielemans. He's been a solo jazz artist, an easy listening artist (sometimes those two overlap and blend), backed pop singers, been a "voice" in the work of popular and jazz composers such as Quincy Jones, played on movie soundtracks, and worked with the cream of jazz aristocracy as well as with many obscure artists in the US, Europe, Brazil, and Japan. 

In some instances, he may be on one or two cuts on someone else's album, but that one cut may be amazing. The ability to purchase single tracks on iTunes and similar services may help pick and choose, though.

What attracts your friend to Toots? It may be that he's interested in a particular aspect of Toots' work? That might help narrow things down.

To focus mainly on Toots' own work as a solo jazz artist, I might recommend:

The Oscar Peterson Big 6 Live at Montreux: This live 1970s set puts Toots in the live excitement of a major live event with a top-flight band including Oscar Peterson, Joe Pass, Louis Bellson, and Milt Jackson.

The Amazing Sound of Toots Thielemans (combines 1950s albums "The Sound" and "Time Out for Toots," both o which combine intense small-group playing with lushly orchestrated showpieces)

Man Bites Harmonica (Classic 1957 bop-oriented small-group session with Pepper Adams on baritone sax)

Only Trust Your Heart (1990s small group session with Fred Hersch on piano)

Verve Jazz Masters 59: Toots Thielemans (anthologizes several different albums, and includes two mid-1950s harmonica features from Toots' stint as a member of the George Shearing Quintet)

Affinity (Bill Evans is the name artist, but Toots is full co-leader; it's among his best work)
 
Winslow Yerxa
Author, Harmonica For Dummies, ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5
            Harmonica Basics For Dummies, ASIN B005KIYPFS
            Blues Harmonica For Dummies, ISBN 978-1-1182-5269-7
Resident Harmonica Expert, bluesharmonica.com
Instructor, Jazzschool for Music Study and Performance


________________________________
 From: Hal Iwan <haliwan@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx 
Sent: Sunday, July 21, 2013 8:05 AM
Subject: [Harp-L] Toots Definitive CD Collection
 

Hello All



A good friend of mine is wanting to acquire a definitive Toots Thielemans cd
collection if such a thing is available

or something that covers much of his long career. Randy Singer ..... can you
help with this?



Thanks to all and enjoy the summer.



Hal