Bill Evans & Toots Thielemans – Live at De Meerkoet, Lelystand, The Netherlands – December 6, 1979.

I was genuinely saddened today to hear of Toots Thielemans’ passing. You may know his hugely soulful, chromatic harmonica breaks on Billy Joel’s ‘Leave A Tender Moment Alone’ or from the closing credits on Sesame Street – when the theme is slowed down to an instrumental he plays lead on. Paul Simon was a huge of admirer of Toots’ playing, featuring him on his 1975 album, ’50 Ways To Leave Your Lover.’

Pianists Bill Evans collaborated with Toots and the excellent ‘Affinity’ from 1980. Here is a Netherlands club set recorded for European radio at around the same time. Toots, guesting here on the last 5 tunes, gells nicely with Evans and his band, with solid take on Simon’s ‘I Do It For Your Love’ and Toots’ own, Blusette.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/zgjg1ouxkw93u2i/Bill%20Evans%20%26%20Toots%20Thielemans.zip?dl=0

Click the link above or below to download this folder from Dropbox. Unzip > Import to iTunes > Enjoy!