He calls Toots a lot. Despite a case of asthma, and a stroke a while back, the old engine continues to hum right along there thank you very much. He recently recorded a commercial for the Belgian telephone company. He can also be heard on commercials for Dou Egberts coffee and Volvo cars. The Siemens corporation paid him handsomely to record a giveaway CD as a product promotion.
Mass acceptance indicates superficiality in what is billed as a deep product.
Obviously there are exceptions and the situation has been evolving because of better educated players having learned lessons from bad examples. Still, a faxophone virtuoso is suspect. Financially, he has done perhaps too well, not enough suffering maybe. Scandinavia with Chet Baker. Chet taught him a lesson.