The multi-instrumentalist Toots Thielemans, one of the greatest artists in jazz, is eighty-eight years of age and continues to record and concertize. He began his career as a guitarist, and in 1959 Hamburg, the young John Lennon and George Harrison often went to hear his noon-time shows with the George Shearing Quintet, but he's perhaps better known for his harmonica playing and whistling. In fact, he is usually considered to be the greatest harmonica player in jazz. He's also a great composer, and one of his songs, "Bluesette", has reached iconic status as one of the most creative and challenging blues-based pieces in the jazz standard repertoire. Here's a really fine version of it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKnG_9q4crA. By the way, Thielemans is performing tonight in Sint-Niklaas, in his native Belgium.

With retrospect, it's clear that George Harrison's Concert for Bangladesh is one of the pivotal moments in rock history. It's not only because this was the first benefit concert of such a size, with such a cast of musicians, but that it provided another way forward for rock and roll: altruism. And with each passing year, it's become not only common for rockers to be involved in causes - it's almost expected.

Anyone who hasn't seen the film of the concert has something great to look forward to. From Harrison's down-to-earth explanation of the reasons for his involvement to the backstage shots of the legendary musicians preparing to go on - from Ravi Shankar's fascinating performance of "Bangla Dhun" (with Harrison kindly asking the crowd to recognize the seriousness of the performers) to the mighty rock and roll show to follow: it's a delight not to be missed. It's hard to believe that Harrison has been gone for almost nine years, and watching him in this footage as he fills the spotlight as a performer, musician and great man is an emotional experience. We were lucky to have him, and his legacy is gigantic. Thanks. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqogkD7nCQc&feature=related)

OK, I listened to some more post-Beatle solo music today, and really enjoyed it. I wonder if these albums will be more and more appreciated as the years pass, because I can't think of any reason that they shouldn't be. Much of their solo work suffered by comparison with the Beatles output, but what doesn't? There are very few rock groups that don't sound sound diminished when played right after them, so to compare the albums of the individuals to albums made by all four is unrealistic. The two albums that I listened to today were pure delights, and nobody will convince me otherwise. (I'm referring here to the surprisingly poor reviews these recordings got at the time.)

George Harrison's self-titled 1979 album, his first for his Dark Horse label, features his beautiful legato singing on ten well played and well produced tracks. Here's a link to the remastered version of "Blow Away": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaA7TVenPXA&feature=related (And check out the early video. By the way, the promotional clips that the Beatles did for such tracks as "Rain" and "Paperback Writer" are often credited with starting music videos. Here's a link to the latter: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sH3TvSxT288&feature=related)

Venus and Mars (1975), the fourth album by Paul McCartney and Wings was great to hear again as well. I'll always love "Rock Show" for its great rhyme of the title with "Concertgebouw", and for mentioning Jimmy Page. More songs should do that. "Listen to What the Man Said" ranks with his best singles - and he's had a few good ones, you'll agree. Here's a link to another remastered version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nw1lmCS11A8&feature=related