Toots Thielemans

Origin

Bruxelas, Bélgica

Genres

jazz, MPB, world music

Instruments

harmonica, guitar, whistle

Biography

Toots Thielemans was a renowned Belgian musician, widely recognized as one of the greatest jazz harmonica players of the 20th century, in addition to standing out as a talented guitarist and professional whistler. Throughout his international career, he maintained a deep and lasting relationship with Brazilian music, collaborating with important icons of MPB and jazz.

His strong connection with Brazil resulted in remarkable works, including memorable partnerships with great names such as Elis Regina, with whom he recorded albums like Aquarela do Brasil, as well as collaborations with accordionist Sivuca and classical guitarist Rosinha de Valença. These projects cemented his name in the history of Brazilian instrumental music and Latin jazz.

Recognized worldwide, Thielemans received various honors throughout his life, including the title of Commander in the Brazilian Order of Rio Branco. His work continues to influence generations of musicians around the world, celebrating the unique fusion between traditional jazz and Brazilian rhythms.

Discography

• The Sound (1955)
• Man Bites Harmonica! (1958)
• Time Out For Toots (1958)
• Toots Thielemans & Ray Bryant Trio – The Soul Of Toots Thielemans (1959)
• Blues Pour Flirter (1961)
• "Toots" Thielemans With Orchestra Directed By Kurt Edelhagen – Road To Romance (1961)
• Whistles, Plays Guitar And Harmonica (1961)
• Friedrich Gulda, Herb Geller, Toots Thielemans, Ack Van Rooyen, Hans Koller – Jazz Workshop Concert - Ruhrfestspiele 1962 (1962)
• The Romantic Sounds of Toots Thielemans (1962)
• Toots Thielemans (1963)
• The Whistler And His Guitar (1964)
• Too Much! Toots! (1965)
• Contrasts... The Provocative Musical Genius Of Toots Thielemans (1966)
• A Musical Flirtation With Toots Thielemans (1967)
• Toots On Tour (1968)
• Toots (1968)
• Elis Regina & Toots Thielemans – Elis & Toots (1969)
• Aquarela Do Brasil (1969)
• Toots Thielemans Met Orkest o.l.v. Bert Paige – Toots In Holland (1970)
• A Taste Of Toots (1970)
• Toots Thielemans & Svend Asmussen – Toots & Svend (1973)
• Toots Thielemans / Philip Catherine / & Friends (1974)
• Captured Alive (1974)
• Toots Thielemans, Beppe Wolgers – Dunderklumpen (1974)
• Live (1974)
• Old Friend (1975)
• Sweet & Lovely (1975)
• Sherlock Jones Original Soundtrack (1975)
• West Genesee Jazz Lab featuring Jean 'Toots' Thielemans – Swing-In '75 (1975)
• Jazz Gala Big Band Orchestra conducted by Peter Herbolzheimer Guest Soloists Gerry Mulligan, Stan Getz, Nat Adderley, Jean "Toots" Thielemans – Jazz Gala Concert (1976)
• Live 2 (1976)
• Jay Berliner, Gene Bertoncini, Toots Thielemans, Richard Resnicoff – The Guitar Session (1977)
• Toots Möter Taube (Toots Thielemans Spelar Melodier Av Evert Taube) (1978)
• Slow Motion (1978)
• Live 3 (1978)
• Naoya Matsuoka Featuring Toots Thielemans & Tsunehide Matsuki – Kaleidoscope (1979)
• Affinity (1979)
• Östen Warnerbring, Daimi, Toots Thielemans – Höresund (1979)
• Big Bird (9) Featuring Toots Thielemans – First Live (1979)
• C.V. Jørgensen, Kasper Winding, Ole Arnfred, Toots Thielemans – Johnny Larsen (1979)
• Philippe Sarde , Mit Jean Toots Thielemans – Der Puppenspieler = Le Guignolo (Original Filmsoundtrack) (1980)
• Eugen Cicero / Jean »Toots« Thielemans – Nice To Meet You (1980)
• Toots Thielemans = トゥーツ・シルマンス – Apple Dimple = 真夜中のカウボーイ'80 (1980)
• Bill Ramsey / Toots Thielemans – When I See You (1980)
• Yuzuru Sera & His "Young" Friends Meet Toots Thielemans – Swing On Birdland Vol.4 (1980)
• Mongo Santamaria With Dizzy Gillespie And Toots Thielemans – "Summertime" - Digital At Montreux 1980 (1981)
• Quincy Jones, James Ingram, Toots Thielemans – One Hundred Ways (1981)
• Jean "Toots" Thielemans Met The South Jazzband – "Toots" In Tivoli (1981)
• La nuit ensoleillée (Bande originale du film) (1981)
• Toots Thielemans & Louis Van Dijk – Toots & Louis (1982)
• Toots Thielemans + Joe Pass + Niels Henning Ørsted-Pedersen – Live In The Netherlands (1982)
• Steel Tenor Madness (1982)
• The Music Of Gasty Meyer (Changing Moods) (1983)
• Toots Thielemans = トゥーツ・シールマンス & Etc. – Midnight Cruiser = ミッドナイトクルーザー (1983)
• Christian Escoudé Group Featuring Toots Thielemans (1983)
• Milkshake Banana + Toots Thielemans – Up To The Kissing Gate (1984)
• Harmonica Jazz (1984)
• Masahiko Satoh, Toots Thielemans, Yukihide Takekawa – YaKsa (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (1985)
• Your Precious Love (1985)
• Toots & Sivuca – Chiko's Bar (1985)
• Kevin Mulligan / Evert Verhees / Toots Thielemans – Bande Originale Du Film "Une Femme ou Deux" (1985)
• Toots Thielemans / Jonny Teupen / Paul Kuhn – Just Friends (1986)
• Jean-Claude Petit Avec La Participation de L' Orchestre de Paris Et de Toots Thielemans – Jean de Florette (Bande Originale Du Film) (1986)
• Daniel Wayenberg / Louis van Dijk / Toots Thielemans (1986)
• Only Trust Your Heart (1988)
• キャプチャード・アライヴ (1988)
• Essentiel Jazz - Harmonica Jazz (1989)
• For My Lady (1991)
• The Brasil Project (1992)
• Toots in Sweden (1995)
• Chez Toots (1998)
• The Live Takes, Vol. 1 (2000)
• Toots Thielemans & Kenny Werner (2001)
• Harmonic Journeys (2006)
• One More For The Road (2006)
• Two Generations (2008)
• Soul (2008)
• Imagination (2012)
• Toots Thielemans Harmonica (2014)
• Live in New Orleans (2015)
• Harmonica Celebration (2016)
• Jazz Legacy (The Jazz Legends) (2016)
• Play It Again! (2020)
• Toots 90 (2021)
• European Quartet Live (2021)
• Harmonica Harmonies (2021)
• Pick Yourself Up (2022)
• Tout de suite (2024)
• Martial Solal & Toots Thielemans (2025)