Customer Reviews

Chez Toots

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4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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I was sitting here trying to remember what made me purchase this disc when in simply dawned on me! Listening to "Chez Toots" is rather like being transported back to Paris, sitting at a sidewalk cafe and enjoying the sights, sounds and yes, even the beautiful women that the City of Lights has to offer.

I 'm not sure how but this disc has a certain intimacy to it that is hard to deny...but, than again why would you want to? The music can be terribly sentimental, maudlin and old-fashioned...and I love it! Few cd's can transport me such as this and make wish I were back in France with that old flame, a bottle of wine and so much more innocence. Songs such as " La Vie En Rose", "Sous Le Ciel De Paris" and "Moulin Rouge" literally can tug your heartstings with a certain world-weariness that comes into play on this cd. Of course having the wonderful Shirley Horn and Dianna Reeves only adds to the sheer beauty of this disc.Ooh La La....!! Toots was wise enough to understand that a disc such as this only works if you keep it honest, direct and with enough emotional integrity to make the listener aware just how much you truly love these songs. And it's terribly obvious how good of a time he is really having. And I guess that makes it so much easier for me to sit back, relax, and enjoy myself as well!

Overall, a cd that is warmly textured, comfortable like an old friend and one that simply asks of the listener to sit back and enjoy life...at least for a short while. So you may wish to pick up your own copy, buy a nice bottle of Chablis and a copy of Peter Mayle's " A Year In Provence" and settle in for the evening. Better yet...call up that old-flame! She may be thinking of you to. Bonsoir!

As a fairly serious jazz music fan who loves rich harmonies, true melodies and vocalists who transcend the everyday, I was surprised and somewhat embarrassed to discover Toots Thielemans so late!

In many other places, I'm sure, you can find descriptions of the virtuosity of this wonderful musician more lucid than I could provide. Yet, I have found myself so entranced by his music, as represented in this CD (among others), that I felt compelled to write a review here.

At least two of the pieces on this CD would have to rank in the top 100 of my all-time favorites. The music is very tastefully arranged and selected--but the guy's harmonica playing is about as close to sublime as one could possibly get with such an instrument.

I couldn't recommend this more highly to anyone with a love of France, and a love of beautiful music and superb musicianship that is never pretentious, ever fascinating.

It is always a pleasure to discover a great artist I've not heard before. Toots' playing is a revelation. I'd never imagined the harmonica as such an expressive jazz instrument. (Growing up in the 60s and 70's I'd limited it in my mind to the blues.) He combines great technique, graceful lines, and a great ear for melody and improvisation. I'm also impressed with the other artists he attracts to play with him. This album is a joy from start to finish.

Toots Thielemans is not only a gifted musician, he is an exceptionally lovely human being.
This CD really demonstrates both.
Joined by Belgian guitarist Philip Cathérine, French accordionist Marcel Azzola, Dutch pianist Bert van den Brink, Dutch bassist Hein Van de Geyn, Brazilian guitarist Oscar Castro-Neves, & French drummer Andre Ceccarelli - tasteful & sensitive musicians all - together they produce some very elegant ensemble work, & a surprisingly delightful & intimate ambiance.
I even liked the guest vocalists who (all but one) sounded different & more interesting than I've heard them before.
So, mes amis, if you're not familiar with Toots, you're in for a treat.
If you are familiar with Toots, you're in for a treat.
Chez Toots is utterly enchanting.

Chez Toots is terrific, but don't expect a hard jazz album. It has a lot of traditional French music which I think is wonderful. If you are really into Toots, check out his album with Kenny Werner. It is a very well done listenable collection of songs.

I don't know how it is possible for a CD to make me feel kind of 'sophisticated' and 'worldly' while at the same time warm and comfortable -- but this one does. Recently I took a six-week trip and only had room for two CDs. This was one of the two that I packed! It isn't dancing music, but it is excellent music for relaxing.

Toots and his harmonica are always superb. What makes this CD (available as a MP3 download only) really special are the vocal accompaniments (Horn, Krall, Reeves) and how the Parisian scene is captured with the music. Enjoy. As a side note Amazon downloads have many advantages
over itune downloads, one being Amazon updates multiple music files including itunes, whereas itunes does not.Chez Toots

"I was born in Brussels in 1922. My parents had a sidewalk café where every Sunday an accordionist came to play. I played myself at age four mostly French popular songs until...much later when I bought a harmonica, then a guitar and heard my first jazz record." ~ Toots Thielemans ~

This 1996 recording, "Chez Toots" by Toots Thielemans is one of the most magnificent works of art ever created. To my ears, he is the undisputed King of Harmonica. He is not only a masterful harmonica player, but also a guitarist, accordionist and composer. He has accompanied quite a number of great jazz singers and played alongside with some of the finest jazz musicians in the industry. I discovered his amazing artistry when I first heard Quincy Jones' album The Dude where he was featured on one of the best tracks, "Velas." And I became an instant fan. I loved everything he composed and played like the material in this pleasing album which reveals fifteen of the most romantic French melodies of all-time starting off with a perennial favorite, "Sous Le Ciel De Paris," down to the last track, a hauntingly beautiful tune "Moulin Rouge." Two of the best tunes here are the products of his creative juices, "Old Friend" and a tune he dedicated to his wife Huguette, "For My Lady."

Toots Thielemans has invited a few notable vocalists to grace this recording and they rendered their respective numbers in such elegance and style. My top favorite is a very charming rendition of "Hymne A L'Amour" by Chip. Diana Krall does a remarkable interpretation of "La Vie En Rose" while Shirley Horn and Dianne Reeves show off their unique and inimitable vocal flair in "Las Valse Des Lilas" (Once Upon A Summertime) and "Un Jour Tu Verras," respectively. Johnny Mathis gives a glow to a great love song composed by Michel Legrand and written by Alan and Marilyn Bergman, "Les Moulins De Mon Couer" (The Windmills of Your Mind).

The album in its entirety displays Toots Thielemans' expertise in harmonica playing and takes the listeners to a completely charming Parisian musical ambience. He will beguile you with his marvelous takes on "Moulin Rouge," "Ne Me Quitte Pas" and "Que Reste T'Il De Nos Amours." I loved it that he brilliantly injected a dose of classics in the repertoire by including Erik Satie's "Valse No. 2" and Maurice Ravel's "Adagio Assai from Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in G Major."

Everything about this recording is adorable. This is the kind of music that is very soothing and relaxing...so listen now, close your eyes and simply savor its splendor. With my heartfelt recommendation.

From the opening track, which starts so easily and smooth, it's deceptive. Let me put it this way: If you ever invested large time, money, and effort on a restaurant, you'd know it all came to pass if the room had this much warmth on all levels: food, music, and companionship. Not the racket that goes for atmosphere in modern eateries. (Think Red Robin's incessant 94db. cacophony) Suddenly you realize that the quartet quietly playing in the alcove is very good indeed, and they're swinging very nicely indeed. You really need to listen to this album. For me the other real transporting is the sweet and soft Old Friend, which has an ease that again belies it's strengths. Toots leads the piano, stings and bass through a colorful painting of longing and home. Good heavens. So nicely done. Thanks, Mr. Toots. Somebody buy this man a really good dinner and a bottle of wine. I'm not French, never been, but enjoy these gems a lot. The old cynic in me would say to the young kids out there "Those are instruments, children, and those are musicians playing them, sshhh, sit down and listen" (Somehow I think we'd all be better served)

I have just purchased this CD while making my usual friday
afternoon trips to the Virgin Mega Store and what a great holiday
gift I have gotten for myself. Harmonica is such a simple yet
magical instrument especially with Toots. All of the tracks from
this album is well-known, well-presented, and with that richness
what else can one ask for? I would recommend this CD to anyone
who enjoys decent music, get the CD, share the music along with
its warmness with your whole family, and winter fades in just a
matter of seconds.