Name: Captured Alive
Brand: Toots Thielemans

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

LP-CND-33241

Colour

Black

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

180g Vinyl

Format Music US

Limited edition

Release date

2023-12-01

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier US

Redeye

Tax rate US

Sales:8.875

UPC / Barcode

708857332410

Total Cap

Black LP

CD-CND-33242

708857332427

Artist

Toots Thielemans

Genre US

Jazz

Label US

Candid Records

NEA Jazz Master, Toots Thielemans, is widely considered to be the preeminent jazz harmonica player. It is safe to say that before him, the harmonica in jazz was simply not done, and Thielemans can be credited with legitimizing the instrument in the genre. Born in Brussels, Belgium in 1922. Theileman’s excelled on accordion as a small child, before picking up the guitar as a teenager after hearing Django Reinhart. Along the way, he taught himself to play harmonica as a hobby. In 1948, during a visit to the US, he sat in on guitar with a jazz group at small club in New York and was “discovered.” Engagements soon followed with the likes of Benny Goodman, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Oscar Peterson, Dizzy Gillespie, Quincy Jones and more. As the story goes, in response to a musicians’ union restriction, Thielemans was forbidden to play guitar at a gig. So, he pulled out his harmonica. The rest, as they say, is history. He went on to have a long and prolific career on the instrument, as both a band leader and session musician. With his unique sound, he became a go-to for film scores in the 1970s (The Pawn Broker, Midnight Cowboy). Perhaps most notably, Thielemans is unconsciously known to generations for having played the melody on Sesame Street’s famous closing theme. Organized as a purely jazz session, the date here prominently features a young Joanne Brackeen on piano. It is perhaps Brackeen’s presence that makes this set so interesting. As an avant-garde player she provides the vehicle for Thielemas to explore more advanced ideas. The album covers a wide range of material, including two originals by Brackeen, alongside standards by Coltrane, Ellington, Mercer and Mancini.

Captured Alive

Music US

Discover Captured Alive by Toots Thielemans. NEA Jazz Master, harmonica player, and session musician. Available in various formats from Candid Records.