TOOTS THIELEMANS

My parents had a pub and each Sunday there was an accordionist. They have told me that when I was in my cradle, I already was imitating the gestures of the musician.

My father bought me a little cardboard accordion, and when I was three I got this little machine.

Well, being a jazz musician is not a rose garden!

The harmonica is a great instrument.

You can be in Tokyo or Alberta at four in the morning in your hotel and you can still practice if you feel like it. A trombone cannot do that at four in the morning.

My parents had a sidewalk cafe: every Sunday there was an accordion player and apparently I went through the motions, squeezing a shoebox. One of the regulars in 'the cafe said to my father: "I think you should get your son an accordion-that's what he's trying to do, with that shoebox." So they got me a little cardboard diatonic accordion-I still have it. I started to play the National Anthem, and things like that. It seems I was musically gifted-but my parents just never pushed in that direction.

Today jazz is still very much alive. Everywhere I go there's a new generation of musicians.

And if I have a strong point, it's that I like to believe it's not cheap or schmaltzy sentimentality.

My father bought me a little cardboard accordion, and when I was three I got this little machine.

Well, being a jazz musician is not a rose garden!

The harmonica is a great instrument.

And if I have a strong point, it's that I like to believe it's not cheap or schmaltzy sentimentality.

You can be in Tokyo or Alberta at four in the morning in your hotel and you can still practice if you feel like it. A trombone cannot do that at four in the morning.

My parents had a pub and each Sunday there was an accordionist. They have told me that when I was in my cradle, I already was imitating the gestures of the musician.

Today jazz is still very much alive. Everywhere I go there's a new generation of musicians.

My parents had a sidewalk cafe: every Sunday there was an accordion player and apparently I went through the motions, squeezing a shoebox. One of the regulars in 'the cafe said to my father: "I think you should get your son an accordion-that's what he's trying to do, with that shoebox." So they got me a little cardboard diatonic accordion-I still have it. I started to play the National Anthem, and things like that. It seems I was musically gifted-but my parents just never pushed in that direction.