Toots Thielemans

Verve Jazz Masters 59

Toots Thielemans - Verve Jazz Masters 59

03/12/1953 | Polygram Records 

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All Music Guide Review

The remarkable jazz harmonica player Toots Thielemans has essentially had no competition ever since he decided to fully focus on that instrument, rather than the guitar, in the early 1950s. This sampler CD, Verve Jazz Masters 59 is, fortunately, programmed in chronological order, contains some rather rare tracks, and covers a wide period of time although it mostly focuses on the '70s and '80s. Thielemans is first heard with the George Shearing Quintet (which at the time included vibraphonist Cal Tjader) in 1953 playing "Undecided" and "Body and Soul." The '60s are represented by a quartet version of his "Flirt" and a forgettable movie theme with Quincy Jones & His Orchestra. A highlight is Thielmans whistling on "Hummin'" with Jones in 1970. The rendition of "Bluesette" (Thielemans one big hit) from 1975 is disappointingly pop-oriented, but there are fine versions of "Tenor Madness" (with a European group in 1975), "Killer Joe" (a duet with bassist Marc Johnson), "The Peacocks," and the straight-ahead "C to G Jam Blues." The interesting CD concludes with "For My Lady," which finds Thielemans accompanied by Shirley Horn and her trio in 1991. Although it would be preferable to have the original sessions reissued in complete form, overall this is a worthwhile sampler of the great Toots Thielemans. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

Verve Jazz Masters 59 Track Listing

  • Track#
  • Title
  • time
  • lyrics
  • 1
  • Undecided
  • 2:35
  • Sound Clip for Undecided from Verve Jazz Masters 59


  • 2
  • Body and Soul
  • 2:34
  • Sound Clip for Body and Soul from Verve Jazz Masters 59


  • 3
  • Flirt
  • 2:45
  • Sound Clip for Flirt from Verve Jazz Masters 59


  • 4
  • Soldier in the Rain
  • 3:10
  • Sound Clip for Soldier in the Rain from Verve Jazz Masters 59


  • 5
  • Hummin'
  • 8:08
  • Sound Clip for Hummin' from Verve Jazz Masters 59


  • 6
  • Brown Ballad
  • 4:22
  • Sound Clip for Brown Ballad from Verve Jazz Masters 59


  • 7
  • You're My Blues Machine
  • 3:08
  • Sound Clip for You're My Blues Machine from Verve Jazz Masters 59


  • 8
  • Bluesette
  • 7:01
  • Sound Clip for Bluesette from Verve Jazz Masters 59


  • 9
  • Big Bossa
  • 4:02
  • Sound Clip for Big Bossa from Verve Jazz Masters 59


  • 10
  • Tenor Madness
  • 8:09
  • Sound Clip for Tenor Madness from Verve Jazz Masters 59


  • 11
  • Nocturne
  • 3:04
  • Sound Clip for Nocturne from Verve Jazz Masters 59


  • 12
  • Vai Passar
  • 5:11
  • Sound Clip for Vai Passar from Verve Jazz Masters 59


  • 13
  • Killer Joe
  • 4:40
  • Sound Clip for Killer Joe from Verve Jazz Masters 59


  • 14
  • The Peacocks
  • 6:32
  • Sound Clip for The Peacocks from Verve Jazz Masters 59


  • 15
  • C to G Jam Blues
  • 2:57
  • Sound Clip for C to G Jam Blues from Verve Jazz Masters 59


  • 16
  • For My Lady
  • 4:31
  • Sound Clip for For My Lady from Verve Jazz Masters 59


    • Credits of Verve Jazz Masters 59

    • Cees Schrama
    • Producer, Liner Notes, Sequencing, Metronome, ?

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