Artist:Toots Thielemans f/Djavan
Song:Obi
Album:The Brasil Project
Jean "Toots" Thielemans popularized the use of the harmonica in jazz. He was born Apr. 29, 1922 in Brussels, Belgium. He first learned the accordion as a teen and started playing the harmonica at age 17. But he first became known in Europe as a Django Rheinhardt influenced guitarist in American GI clubs in Europe. He came to the US and played with Charlie Parker in 1949. For most of the 50s, he played guitar for the George Shearing band. He had his first solo hit with his composition Bluesette in 1961 featuring his harmonica & whistling. He's been in demand ever since and he's still touring today. The Brasil Project was a surprise hit on the Contemporary Jazz Charts in 1992. It features Thielemans playing harmonica with Brazilian artists like Gilberto Gil, Milton Nascimento, Luis Bonfa & Eliane Elias along with Brian Bromberg, Mark Isham & Dave Grusin. Obi was written by and features the fabulous Brazilian singer Djavan. It sold so well that Private Music released a second volume. Toots Thielemans most recent CD One For The Road was released in 2006 by Verve. Here's Toots Thielemans performing Bluesette in Brazil 2007.
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