Ole Thomsen was born in 1952 in Bergen, Norway, where he began playing the guitar in the early sixties after taking classical piano lessons for about 4 years. Early influences were the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers etc. and the broad musicscene at the time.
Around 1970 he developed an interest in jazz and related styles, and was listening to Mahavishnu Orchestra, Weather Report, Chick Corea, Miles Davis and the great fusion bands of the time. His musical taste has grown to include music from almost any style, instrument and time-period.
Since 1977 he has been a full-time freelance guitarist and composer in the professional music-business in Norway. He has toured in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Austria and the Faroe Islands, and done a lot of studio,TV and-radio gigs, and written music for many bands throughout these years.
He has played on 40+ records.
In 1988 he was commisioned to write a special piece for the Vossa Jazz Festival called "Invisible Dances". Artist Nina Seim contributed by making beautiful stage-decorations for the concert.
And in 1996 he wrote a piece called "Ankle Deep" for the Nightjazz Festival in Bergen using a nine-piece band plus dancers instructed by choreographer Elisabeth Guino-o.
For his work on the Norwegian jazzscene he recieved the Vossajazz Price in 1989.
During the last 20 years he has also toured a lot for the National Concert Program Rikskonsertene , doing concerts in schools all over Norway, and has also written three compositions commisioned by them.
He is grateful to have met and played with, and learned from, so many fine musicians during these years.
Bio