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Fujitsu Jazz Festival
The Magic of
Toots: A Celebration of Toots Thielemans March 16, 2006, New York - Carnegie
Hall Produced by Pat Philips and Ettore Stratta
by Roberta E.
Zlokower photo
courtesy by Roberta E. Zlokower
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Featuring Toots Thielemans on Harmonica
Special Guests:
Herbie Hancock on Piano
Ivan Lims on Keyboard and Vocals
Paquito D'rivera on Clarinet
Eliane Elias on Vocals and Piano
Joe Lovano on Saxophone
Oscar Castro-Neves on Guitar
Ludovic Beier on Accordion
And:
Kenny Werner, Musical Director, on Piano,
Scott Colley on Bass
Ari Hoenig on Drums
Pat Philips and Ettore Stratta once again produced a full and eclectic
program in tribute to one virtuoso artist, with the varying ensembles of numerous
other artists, one of whom, in this case Paquito D'rivera, was awarded his
own tribute last year.
The
charismatic pianist,
Herbie
Hancock, generously and warmly introduced
Toots
Thielemans, the Belgian-born harmonica player, who has performed with
Charlie Parker, Benny Goodman, Ella Fitzgerald, and Paul
Simon.
Herbie
Hancock played a melancholy piece for
Toots
in his honor, before
Toots
and
Herbie performed an abstract, romantic work together, composed
by Paul Simon.
With the shift to
Herbie
Hancock's
The Dolphin Dance, with
bass and drums enthusiastically played by Scott Colley and Ari Hoenig,
the audience seriously warmed up. Michel Legrand's
I Will Wait for You followed,
and now Ludovic Beier was onstage, a familiar musician to this magazine and
a standard performer in the Stratta-Philips' Django Reinhardt series. Tonight,
Ludovic was rousingly applauded in his
Carnegie Hall
debut, as his unique accordion could break one note into ten. Paquito D'rivera,
good friend of
Toots,
brought his clarinet for Brussels
in the Rain, switching themes with
Toots,
who played endlessly and tirelessly tonight, making his harmonica sound like a tiny
orchestra. Paquito's duet with
Toots
was filled with humor and harmony.
Kenny Werner and
Herbie
Hancock took turns at the piano all evening. In fact, they
also switched seats with Eliane Elias, a Brazilian vocalist-pianist, with
Kenny Werner taking one electric keyboard and Ivan Lins, another Brazilian
vocalist-pianist taking a second keyboard. This was one classy Brazilian-Fusion
Jam. A special moment occurred with Joe Lovano coming onstage with Toots,
accompanied by the piano trio. Joe Lovano is an imposing presence, and his
saxophone soared and sang.
Toots'
composition, For My Lady,
written for his wife, who beamed in the audience, was a ballad that built in magical
momentum. There Will Never Be Another You brought
Herbie
Hancock back on enchanting piano trills, along with an increased
ensemble accompanying
Toots.
Toots, Oscar Castro-Neves, Ludovic
Beier, Paquito D'Rivera
Eliane Elias was the next addition on piano, plus Oscar Castro-Neves,
a renowned Brazilian guitarist, plus
Toots,
with bass and drums. Jobim's music resonated throughout the Hall, as piano, guitar,
and harmonica blended beautifully. Jobim's
Waters of March was sung
in English, and the musicians added campy gestures for audience engagement.
Momentos, by Eliane, was
ever so soft and mellow. A full Brazilian fusion ensued, with Ludovic returning
with Paquito and Joe Lovano. Ivan Lins, who sometimes sounded
like a Brazilian Aznavour, sang at his keyboard, with the glamorous Eliane
on piano, Oscar Castro-Neves on guitar,
Toots
on harmonica, Kenny Werner on another keyboard, and bass and drums on the
side. This was truly a one-time event, with non-other than Tony Bennett in
the audience.
Scott Colley, Toots, Oscar Castro-Neves,
Ludovic Beier, Paquito D'Rivera, Joe Lovano, Ivan Lins
Jacques Brel's Ne Me
Quitte Pas, one of my favorites, found
Toots
in an ethereal duet with Kenny Werner. It was brilliantly conceived to have
a pure harmonica performance for the audience at this point in the program, and
Kenny Werner showcased Toots as well as his own talent. The fun began again
when
Herbie
Hancock joined Eliane Elias on the same piano
bench in a four-hand performance, as
Toots
pulled out his own guitar! Another surprise. The show ended with Ivan Lins
singing again, amidst the entire ensemble of intriguing, international musicians.
There were warm goodbyes, on harmonica and in spoken words. Kudos to Stratta-Philips,
and kudos to
Toots
Thielemans.
Herbie Hancock & Eliane Elias
Kenny Werner, Ari Hoenig,
Ivan Lins
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Joe Lovano, Oscar Castro-Neves
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Tony Bennett
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Kenny Werner, Toots and
Scott Colley
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Publishing Date: 04/09/2006
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