Transcript for the Piece Audio version of NEA Jazz Master Toots Thielemans on his Musical Upbringing.

TOOTS THIELEMANS_ BOYHOOD

(:90)

NOW A JAZZ MOMENT…

MUSIC: Sous le Ciel De Paris
CD: Chez Toots RCA Victor (ASIN: B000005YTT) (cut 1)
(iTunes download)

THE MUSICAL ROOTS OF NEA JAZZ MASTER TOOTS THIELEMANS ARE RIGHT OUT OF A EUROPEAN STORYBOOK. AS A LITTLE BOY GROWING UP IN BRUSSELS, HE BEGAN TO PLAY MUSIC ON A CARDBOARD ACCORDION FOR PATRONS AT HIS PARENTS’ MODEST CAFÉ. HE WAS JUST FIVE YEARS OLD WHEN HE FIRST DEMONSTRATED HIS MUSICAL ABILITIES.

Toots Thielemans: One day, my mama took me to see the film with Ramón Novarro. The song was “Ramona, da-de-de-de-de,” . So we go see that and I come home and I played on the accordion. Well not perfectly, but I was just 5 years old!

AT AGE 17, THIELEMANS TOOK UP THE CHROMATIC HARMONICA. SINCE THEN, HE’S BEEN KNOWN AS THE PRE-EMINENT EXPONENT OF THIS INSTRUMENT IN JAZZ.

Toots Thielemans: I have been trying to be a creative musician since 1945. And in those 60 years, more than 60, look what happened!

MUSIC: up and fades

THIS JAZZ MOMENT WITH HARMONICA PLAYER TOOTS THIELEMANS WAS CREATED BY THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS.