Thierry Dutoit's Other Interests

My family!   I have a wonderful wife, Catherine, a marvelous daughter : Alice, and a tiny cute son, Louis.

Jazz!   (fusion, jazz-rock) Now you understand why I joined AT&T Labs - Research in 1996-1998 : to be closer to the famous New York jazz clubs (Small's, Blue note, Knitting Factory, Tonic, Village Vanguard).

I also committed this web page entitled "Jazz Guitar for the Rest of Us" , or "How to play simple but effective jazz chords on a classical guitar tuned as a bass!".

By the way, this passion for “jazz” quickly expanded into a broader curiosity for New Music. I can only recommend the listening of New Sounds, hosted by John Schaefer on WNYC New-York. I basically listen to it everyday. This is the most extraordinary music broadcast I know of. As John Schaefer himself puts it : “New Sounds provides a place for your left and right brain to unwind at the end of day.”. Long life to you, John!

Double Bass!   I used to think I was a pianist for years, but I could never get close enough to music. The piano was there, between me and jazz. Things are VERY different with double bass. Your ears are in total control, not your eyes. So, after having taken a first course in NYC, which was enough for me to become a double bass enthiousiast, I came back to Belgium, very much decided to buy a double bass and find a good jazz teacher. Hmmm. Things were harder than I expected... But I finally got my brand new double bass (see picture!), and I found my teacher, Jose Bedeur, via the Lundis d'Hortense association. Here are some of my masterpieces :).

Photography   I recently realized the pleasure of photography . It changed my view of the surrounding world, helping me see its obvious poetry.

Funny drawings!   On the side, I like to draw stamp-sized sketchy portraits. (I have no merit, compared to the masterpieces of pavement drawing by Julian Beever, my brother-in-law).