Toots Thielemans

THE AMAZING SOUND OF TOOTS THIELEMANS (2 LP ON 1 CD)

Personnel:

Urbie Green, Billy Byers, Lou McGarity (tb), Toots Mondello (as, cl), Al Cohn, Zoot Sims (ts), Danny Bank (bs), Tony Mottola, Bucky Pizzarelli, Barry Galbraith (g), Ray Bryant, Hank Jones (p), Oscar Pettiford, Wendell Marshall (b), Art Taylor (d)

Reference: FSRCD 526

Jean Toots Thielemans arrived in the U.S. from his native Belgium in 1951. His first works in jazz were as a guitarist, instrument on which he achieved recognition as soon as he joined the George Shearing Quintet in late 1952. However, he was also a skilful harmonica player.

The present selection was intended to introduce the several facets of the instrument as exposed by Toots Thielemans thorough musicianship, his swing, and his unique achievements in versatility. For him, the ingredients of jazz are the beat (the motor) and sound, melody, and harmony (the intelligence). In this collection you will find Toots playing harmonica on every track, and even overdubbing guitar solos on four of them. With feats like this, not only he proved that jazz is a music of many moods, but he also brought a new perspective to the use of the harmonica in the jazz field; because one thing is certain: he can make it swing!

Tracklisting:

01. On The Alamo 2:19

02. Dont Be That Way 4:36

03. I Put All The Eggs In One Basket 2:23

04. Sophisticated Lady 2:59

05. Scotch On The Rocks 2:46

06. I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart 2:23

07. Stars Fell Of Alabama 3:13

08. Diga Diga Doo 4:28

09. So Rare 2:46

10. Skylark 2:03

11. Sonny Boy 4:19

12. Cocktails For Two 2:12

13. The Nearness Of You 3:22

14. In A Sentimental Mood 3:14

15. You Took Advantage Of Me 2:41

16. Cool And Easy 2:53

17. Body And Soul 2:15

18. The Cuckoo In The Clock 4:19

19. Tangerine 2:36

20. Early Autumn 3:41

21. Them There Eyes 2:35

22. A Handful Of Stars 3:27

23. Cant Lovin Dat Man 3:00

24. Clap Yo Hands 2:40

Total time: 74:17 min.

Sources:

Tracks #1-12: from the 12" album "The Sound" (Columbia CL658)

Tracks #13-24: from the 12" album "Time Out For Toots" (Decca DL9204)

Collective personnel includes:

Urbie Green, Billy Byers, Chauncey Welsch, Santos Russo, Lou McGarity, Al Godlis, Billy Rauch, Jack Satterfield (tb), Toots Mondello, Artie Beck (as, cl), Carl Prager (bs, cl), Al Cohn, Zoot Sims (ts), George Berg (ts, cl), Al Epstein, Danny Bank (bs), Tony Mottola, Bucky Pizzarelli, Barry Galbraith (g), Ray Bryant, Hank Jones (p), Oscar Pettiford, Wendell Marshall, Doug Watkins (b), Cliff Leeman, Bill Clark, Art Taylor (d).

All tracks recorded in New York, 1955-1958

Produced for CD release by Jordi Pujol