Toots Thielemans
THE SOUL OF
TOOTS THIELEMANS
Personnel:
Toots
Thielemans (harmonica, g), Ray Bryant (p), Tommy Bryant (b), Oliver Jackson (d)
Reference: FSRCD 1651
Not many
European-born musicians have been admitted to the select inner circle of jazz
innovators. One of them, of course, is the Belgian Jean Toots Thielemans. His
amazing capacity to coax real music from a harmonica made of him a true
virtuoso. And, as a guitarist, Toots also proved to be more than proficient at
playing simple and eloquent, as we can appreciate in this charming program of
nice music carried forth with taste, creativity and restrain.
This is by
far the best album Jean Toots Thielemans has ever made. Nat Hentoff started his
liner notes for the original Signature release in 1960 with this categorical
statement. As for Thielemans, he regarded this album as a sort of graduate
degree as the result of my assimilation of American life and the American jazz
scene. Especially, my assimilation of the people who play, live and sing the
blues. Thats why I wanted soul in the title of this album.
A cohesive
rhythm section joined him for the date, with pianist Ray Bryant, bassist Tommy
Bryant, and Oliver Jackson on drums. A superb trio, with Bryant delivering some
bright piano solos in addition to his background duties. By and large, the feel
of this set is pleasant, relaxed and swinging. Lets all rejoice in the fact
that they went to the studio and did it.
Tracklisting:
01. You Are
My Sunshine
02. Nuages
03. Five
OClock Whistle
04. Soul
05. Lonesome
Road
06. Misty
07.
Confirmation
08. Les
Enfants Sennuient le Dimanche
09. Brother
John
Recorded in New York City, October
1959
Produced for
CD release by Jordi Pujol