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Released in 2006, One More for the Road is a stunning testament to Toots Thielemans’ legacy. Even in his 80s, Toots proved that his harmonica playing remained as fluid, lyrical, and emotionally resonant as ever.

The album is essentially a high-class tribute to Harold Arlen, one of the giants of the Great American Songbook.

Reception

These sessions by harmonica virtuoso Toots Thielemans are a mixed bag of vocal and instrumental interpretations of works by Harold Arlen. Unfortunately, the project comes across as more of a crossover date, featuring several vocalists who will be of little interest to many jazz fans, while conductor Jurre Haanstra’s orchestrations are rather bland and sometimes a bit syrupy. Thielemans’ own solos tend to be fairly short, while his regular pianist, Kenny Werner (switching to Fender Rhodes on a few tracks), isn’t utilized enough as a soloist (Ken Dryden/AllMusic).

The most commanding performance comes last, one of the three Thielemans features that forgo singers. Relegated to “bonus track” status, “Over the Rainbow” jettisons the overblown arrangements and lets Thielemans interact with a piano trio, a light dusting of electric keyboards the only concession to production sweetening. Over this lean and apt support, the genius of the jazz harmonica proceeds to do his job: break your heart with each exquisitely blown note (STEVE FUTTERMAN/JazzTimes).

A Bit of Context
The Arrangement: The album features the Metropole Orchestra, which provides a lush, velvet-curtain backdrop that never overpowers the soloists.

The Vibe: It’s late-night music. It feels like a celebration of a long career, hence the title—a nod to the classic “One for the Road” trope, but with the warmth of someone who isn’t quite ready to leave the stage yet.

Toots’ Tone: Notice how he uses space. He doesn’t overplay; every note feels intentional, like he’s exhaling a memory.

Track listing:

Toots Thielemans With Lizz Wright– Come Rain Or Come Shine 4:41
Toots Thielemans With Madeleine Peyroux– Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea 2:40
Toots Thielemans With Silje Nergaard– Last Night When We Were Young 5:14
Toots Thielemans– Ill Wind 3:55
Toots Thielemans With Jamie Cullum– One For My Baby (And One More For The Road) 5:09
Toots Thielemans With Beth Hart– I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues 3:05
Toots Thielemans With Trijntje Oosterhuis– I Wonder What Became Of Me 4:04
Toots Thielemans– That Old Black Magic 4:18
Toots Thielemans With Till Brönner– This Time The Dream’s On Me 4:47
Toots Thielemans With Oleta Adams– Stormy Weather 5:33
Toots Thielemans With Laura Fygi– It’s Only A Paper Moon 3:46
Toots Thielemans– Over The Rainbow 5:49

Personnel:

Arranged By, Conductor – Jurre Haanstra
Bass – Aram Kersbergen (tracks: 1, 2, 4 to 6, 8 to 11)
Drums – Marcel Serierse (tracks: 1, 2, 4 to 11)
Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes] – Kenny Werner (tracks: 1, 4, 8, 11)
Guitar – Martijn van Iterson (tracks: 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 11)
Harmonica – Toots Thielemans
Keyboards – Jurre Haanstra (tracks: 1, 4, 10)
Percussion – Eddy Conard (tracks: 4, 8, to 10)
Piano – Kenny Werner (tracks: 2, 5, 6)
Vibraphone – Frits Landesbergen (tracks: 1, 4, 11)
Written-By – Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer (tracks: 1, 5, 7 to 9, 11), Ted Koehler (tracks: 2, 4, 6, 10)

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Label: Verve Records – 0602498737767, Universal Music – 0602498737767
Format: CD, Album
Released: 2006