He may have played the bass but is known for his work on the Chromatic harmonica. I used to have a number of his albuns/CDs.
Toots played guitar and harmonica, and also composed. I have his albums as well. Talk about a virtuoso. I was referring to him playing bass harmonica on that song...a huge monstrosity of a thing:
Yes it is a biggun. After my son gave me a cd or two by Toots, I bought a chromatic harp. learned to play it but of course nothing like Toots.
I started playing harmonica to exercise my lungs and diaphragm and to help me breath. Learning to play was to keep from running off my family or them running me off.
I played trumpet form the age of 9 until I was in my 30s. I was never any good, but enjoyed it. And it exposed me to all sorts of music.