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What a fabulous player, sad news but a wonderful recorded legacy.
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I saw him perform in 2001 when he was a guest by a set given by Kenny Werner and Dave Leibman. They clearly held him in great respect.
Whilst I can appreciate Thielemans producing some very credible jazz on an instrument generally lacking in credibility, it is difficult to judge where his kind of approach to jazz sits in the great scheme of things. Having heard a lot of French jazz over the years (and you can include a good number of Belgian musicians into this category) there does seem to be an almost counter-culture to the American way of doing things. Thielemans always seemed a "fringe" player in some respects, perhaps divorced from the mainstream. However, it is quite clear just how much respect American musicians have given to those players who have taken a more Gallic approach.
Personally, I don't mind the results but think the songwriting ability / melodies which set the music apart. Sometimes I find the results too sentimental for my taste but you have to give credit to the Belgians and the French who were the first nations to recast jazz in their own identity.Comment
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At about 52 minutes in....Comment
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This was my introduction to Toots music c1965
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I quite see what Ian is saying above although Toots was a supremely gifted improviser quite at home with jazz royalty. For me Toots had a way of putting emotion into playing ballads that is simply wonderful. I couldn't resist posting this performance which shows this quality with Quincy Jones directing the band:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IA36Anlf1bw
Touching comment from the YouTube page 'Free at last little bird.'Comment
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Jaco was a fan too.
RIP Toots - always loved the Sesame Street theme when I was a nipper and now I understand why.all words are trains for moving past what really has no nameComment
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