Jean-Baptiste Frédéric Isidor, Baron Thielemans (born Brussels, Belgium, April 29, 1922), known as Toots Thielemans, is a Belgian jazz artist well known for his guitar, harmonica playing, and also for his highly accomplished professional whistling. He is often credited by jazz aficionados and jazz critics as being among the greatest jazz harmonica players of the century. Thielemans started his career as a guitar player. In 1949 he joined a jam session in Paris with
Sidney Bechet,
Charlie Parker,
Miles Davis,
Max Roach and others. In 1951 he went on tour with
Bobbejaan Schoepen.