In Norway – 1970
Toots Thielemans
The remarkable Toots performs on harmonica, guitar and/or whistling
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Toots Thielemans would have been considered a masterful musician even if he had never played the harmonica.
While his playing on the chromatic harmonica is second to none (and some of his solos on bebop-oriented tunes are simply impossible), he was also a talented guitarist and a virtuosic whistler.
On this television appearance from 1970, Thielemans (who is accompanied by pianist Einar Iversen, bassist Tor Hauge, and drummer Jon Christensen), begins by whistling and playing his guitar in unisons on a fast “Whistle While You Work.”
He next performs his best known composition “Bluesette,” still whistling and playing guitar
Thielemans concludes the performance by switching to harmonica for “On Green Dolphin Street” and swinging with the quartet.
-Scott Yanow
Ella Fitzgerald