Tollak Ollestad, singer/songwriter/instrumentalist, a uniquely gifted musical artist whose interesting blend of influences, Pop/Soul/Ambient/Jazz, captivates, and whose impressive talents are hard to deny . A composer of hypnotically compelling music with a phenomenal singing voice, an accomplished keyboardist, adept guitarist, and as if that weren't enough, he's one of the greatest harmonica players who ever walked the planet. And if you think that's hype, look at the list of artists he's played live or recorded with- Don Henley, Earth, Wind and Fire, Al Jarreau, Andrea Bocelli, David Foster, Natalie Cole, Dave Stewart, Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Dave Grusin, Chet Atkins, Brian McKnight and the list goes on and on. He also played the harmonica in the theme for the classic TV series "Northern exposure".
Born in Seward, Alaska and of Norwegian and Native American ancestry Tollak was raised in Seattle, Washington, but left early on to pursue his dreams in Los angeles where he went on to meet and work with many of his childhood idols. Flash forward to the present where Tollak has been living in Europe since the spring of 2004, mainly in Holland but also performing regularly in Italy. He's expanded his musical activities lending his experiences to musical education programs both in Holland and Italy, as well as continuing to compose, perform and record all over Europe and America.
His newest CD "Across the Rubicon", a tour de force of writing, singing and playing, with Vinnie Colaiuta, Jimmy Haslip, Knut Reiersruud, Luca Trolli, Elske De Wall and others is available now.
WORKSHOP SUL MODERN BLUES: MODERN BAND e MODERN SINGER (Domenica 15
Novembre 2009)
FARA MUSIC WINTER SCHOOL 2009 (Domenica 15 Novembre), vi propone 1
giorno full immersion di didattica (6 ore), incentrato sul blues, sul soul, sul
funk e sul jazz, affidandosi a 4 mostri sacri di questi generi: TOLLAK
(cantante, armonicista, pianista), LELLO PANICO (chitarrista elettrico),
FRANCESCO PUGLISI (basso) e LUCA TROLLI (batterista).
Hi Tollak! You are pretty dedicated, treading water for that photo! It turned out great! I requested you on Facebook & sent a note, so look for me on there. I'd love to see your new photos!
Wish I could make to Groninge so much.......... a bit out of the way for me ..... ;-( ............. are you planning to come down this way this fall, before the end of the year ?...... let' s get together with Beppe in Milan then........ I am going to be rather busy too, just sold most of my company assets to the americans and focusing more and more on music, managed to get into an interesting "nitch", playing for small and large congressual events........ getting quite a lot of work there and more to come.... keep in touch.... Ciao !..... Roby
I did not hear about Cincinnati. It would have been a good road trip, but now is not a good time. :( Any chance you could all swing by St. Louis? Pleeeease? :)
Thanks a lot! i like your music too =) and don't worry, you'll get the hang of socklaunching. The trick is in the angle. Also, make sure you're not aiming them at your rug.
I heard you are going to cook us (JiD) dinner! when will this take place? What are you up to lately? Did any more shows on (*&#^#)huge stages in Italy? K.
Online Now!
