Toots Thielemans Quartet — North Sea Jazz Festival, 2009

A full live concert by the Toots Thielemans Quartet at the North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam on 10 July 2009, drawn from the festival’s official archive. At 87, the Belgian harmonica player — one of the greatest instrumentalists in jazz history, immortalised by « Bluesette » and his work with Quincy Jones, Bill Evans and Jaco Pastorius — delivers a performance of rare elegance. Surrounded by exceptional musicians, he unfurls his singing phrasing and inimitable chromatic-harmonica tone across standards, ballades and original compositions. His rapport with pianist Kenny Werner, his musical « soulmate », fuels a conversation of great subtlety, underpinned by Scott Colley’s bass and Antonio Sánchez’s drums. This high-definition filmed live performance is a precious document of the jazz concert at its highest level and of a master’s enduring artistry. An essential full concert for lovers of acoustic jazz and harmonica. Filmed live concert, jazz festival, 2000s jazz.