Harmonica Legend TOOTS THIELEMANS Celebrates His 90th Birthday With European Quartet on “90 Yrs.”

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Challenge Records, DL Media, Hans van Oosterhout, Harmonica, Hein Van de Geyn, Karel Boehlee, Toots Thielemans

Live CD Features Unique and Previously Unreleased Recordings
Taken from Thielemans’ Latest Tours Around the World
Featuring Companion DVD with Select Materials from his
Most Recent Concert in Japan

“The harmonica has long been regarded as the humblest of musical instruments, and yet, as Mr. Thielemans and Mr. Maret show, when played at its best, it is more than capable of expressing the deepest feelings in the human experience.” – Wall Street Journal

“Wherever his ideas take him he follows them, and the rest of his superb European Quartet miraculously keep up with him.” – The Guardian

Stream 2 Tracks from 90 Yrs.

Toots Thielemans (European Quartet), 90 yrs.

This past April, Toots Thielemans, arguably the most famous harmonica player worldwide, turned 90-years old. To celebrate this milestone, Thielemans is releasing a live CD/DVD package with the support of his European quartet – pianist Karel Boehlee, drummer Hans van Oosterhout and double-bass player Hein Van de Geyn. The album is comprised of eleven tracks recorded over the past five years during Thielemans’ latest globetrotting tours while the accompanying DVD focuses on his group’s latest concert in Japan.

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Harmonicist GRÉGOIRE MARET To Release Long-Awaited ‘Self-Titled’ Debut on eOne Music, March 13

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African American, Cassandra Wilson, Clarence Penn, Federico Gonzalez Peña, Gregoire Maret, Harmonica, James Genus, Matt Pierson, Raul Midón, Swiss

SPECIAL GUESTS INCLUDE CASSANDRA WILSON, MARCUS MILLER, RAUL MIDÓN, & TOOTS THIELEMANS, AMONG OTHERS

Grégoire Maret | Grégoire Maret

“He’s one of the most creative musicians around.” – Herbie Hancock

Over the course of the past decade, Grégoire Maret has emerged as a unique and compelling new voice across a wide spectrum of the modern jazz world. That his chosen instrument – the harmonica – is a relative rarity in the genre is one element in his singular sound, but far from the whole explanation. After all, the extensive list of heavy-hitters who have enlisted him for their own projects is unparalleled: Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, Cassandra Wilson, and Marcus Miller are some of his most prominent employers, none of whom have the patience to employ novelty for novelty’s sake.

LISTEN TO STREAMING TRACKS FROM THE ALBUM
O Amor E O Meu Pais | Travels | (Children’s Suite) Children’s Song

“Grégoire Maret is an exceptional young musician who is taking the harmonica to an exciting new place in jazz.” – Pat Metheny

Gregoire Maret -][- Gregoire Maret [Entertainment One, 2012]

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Gregoire Maret, Harmonica, Jazz

Gregoire Maret, Gregoire Maret

Gregoire Maret -][- Gregoire Maret [Entertainment One, 2012]

Prepare yourself for the most important debut jazz recording since Esperanza Spaulding broke through a few years ago. Gregoire Marét is not only a musicians musician as evidenced by the testimonials above but hes a charismatic virtuoso whose musical concepts are at once highly melodic, soulful, swinging, and elegantly exploratory.

On his debut album, Gregoire proves himself to be a master interpreter of works by Chick Corea, Milton Nascimento, Stevie Wonder, Pat Metheny, and others; and also an impressionistic composer of great panache and sophistication in his own right. The selections are extended, diverse, richly textured and always engaging.

Supported by an impressive cast, including vocalists Cassandra Wilson and Raul Midòn, and bassist Marcus Miller, Gregoire Marét has brought forth that rare creation in todays jazz an album that is simultaneously forward-looking and in the moment. State of the art, 2012.

..:: SOURCE: Amazon.com ::..

Frédéric Yonnet | Front Center

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Frédéric Yonnet, Harmonica

Frédéric Yonnet - Front and Center

Frédéric Yonnet ::|:: Front Center – [The Orchard, 2004]

-::BIO::- When it comes to the harmonica, Frédéric Yonnet knows how to turn skeptics into believers. Most people perceive the harmonica as a “side” instrument used in country and blues. However, Yonnet is one of a handful of musicians to successfully demonstrate the harmonica’s versatility as a lead instrument in contemporary jazz, R&B and other genres of music. Yonnet says, “Limitations are not in the instrument but in one’s thinking.”

Clearly, Yonnet has no limits. Just listen to his sound. It funks. It rocks. It hips and hops. It grooves. It sways. It testifies. It prays. It has a reverence for blues and jazz while appealing to a generation breed on pop rock and hip‐hop. He as performed with music legend Stevie Wonder and recently recorded with generational icons, the Jonas Brothers. His current stint with music royalty Prince has exposed him and his powerhouse sound to a wider, more diverse audience. Praise from Dave Chappelle and performances with neo‐soul queen Erykah Badu, Soul prodigy John Legend, jazzman Branford Marsalis, and Jewish raggamuffin Matisyahu have all contributed to his mission to change the way the music industry, musicians and enthusiasts regard the “pocket” instrument.

Look out for Yonnet’s upcoming album “REED MY LIPS: THE ROUGH CUT” on May 4th. While you’re here, visit http://www.fredyonnet.com/index.html for more information about this exciting artist!

..:: Source: Frédéric Yonnet & Amazon.com ::..