Ole Mathisen
saxophonistt
A 18 year veteran of the New York Jazz and Studio Scene, Ole Mathisen has established himself as someone with a unique voice both as an instrumentalist and as a composer, relentlessly experimenting and pursuing new standards for himself through playing and writing. Jerry D'Souza of All About Jazz writes: "His saxophone wanders into seductive odd time signatures,... riding an angular trail, adding fast jabs and a tumble of notes that blow across in an intense whirl." Charles Farrell of eMusic writes: "Mathisen has already moved away from any forebears into his own territory."
Ole continues to tour worldwide, teach, and contribute to numerous recordings every year. With the group FFEAR, he was awarded the Chamber Music America's "New Jazz Works" grant of 2009.
Ole has worked on close to 100 CD releases, composed several movie and television scores, and has participated on innumerable commercials. In 2007 he released "CHINESE HOROSCOPE," (Jazzheads) his first album as a leader to critical acclaim. The follow up album "PERIODIC TABLE,'' (Jazzheads) was released in April of 2010. He is the leader of Ole Mathisen ZERO-SUM, co-leader of FFEAR, and a member of Chris Washburne's SYOTOS, Alex Garcia's Afromantra, and Mamak Khadem Ensemble. He has been a member of the Jazz Studies Faculty at Columbia University since 2005. Ole Mathisen received his Bachelor Degree in Professional Music from Beklee College, graduating summa cum laude in 1988, and earned a Masters Degree in Jazz Performance from Manhattan School of Music in 1995. His teachers include renowned saxophone guru Joe Viola, woodwind master Bob Mintzer, Maria Schneider (arranging), and Ed Green (composing/ film scoring). Ole has performed and/ or recorded with many of the world's most recognized artists: Louie Vega, Paula Cole, Omar Hakim, Darryl Jones, Hiram Bullock, William Kennedy, Tom Coster, Mark Egan, Steve Smith, Mino Cinelu, Peter Erskine, Eddie Gomez, Badal Roy, Rufus Reid, Ron Carter, Grady Tate, Claudio Roditi, Will Lee, LaVerne Baker, Abraham Laboriel, Randy Brecker, Kenwood Dennard, Gil Goldstein, Lew Soloff, Tiger Okoshi, Michael Gibbs, Harvie Swartz, Jon Christensen, Gary Husband, Cyro Batista, Bill Bruford, Kenny Barron, Bob Moses, David Liebman, Jeff Berlin, Hilton Ruiz, Adam Nussbaum, Raphael, Frankie Valli, Mamak Khadem, Keiko Lee, and Dream Theater.
