Toots Thielemans Quotes

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

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.

Jazz is very much alive. Everywhere I go there's a new generation of musicians playing Jazz music.

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

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.

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.

The harmonica is a great instrument.