Guitarist/Teacher - Hans Ottsen - Hans' Thoughts

WORP Trio Live @ Kennedy House Party

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0700

The WORP Trio played a very enjoyable gig last night! To celebrate the Solstice, some friends of mine, the Kennnedy's, had a house party in East Ventura. They hired the WORP Trio to play during the party. We had a ball! Delicious food, terrific people (artsy types, my favorite!), Anacapa Brewing Company kegs (I don't drink but I heard it was yummy!), all conducive to an evening of improvisational creativity. Which is just what happened! Thanks guys for a truly enjoyable evening. We got a great recording of it too! (I should have a couple tracks up on the 'Listen' page of this website before long.)

Night before Ron's memorial...

Sat, 22 May 2010 00:00:00 -0700

I can hear Ron's voice. Right now. For example, if I were to say out loud, "Ron. What do I do with this pain I feel knowing I'll never have another actual conversation with you?" And I hear him. I hear him say, "It must make you feel so sad having lost somebody you loved so much. What a gift to have had the chance to know and love in that way. You'll have that always." -except poetic and more comforting. It's 3am the night before Ron's memorial and I can't sleep. Which means I oughta be practicing but I'm not gonna. I just thought I'd write a little. And I have.

In Memory Of Ron Blanchette

Sun, 16 May 2010 00:00:00 -0700

Hello Friends. It's been a tough week. I found out my dear friend, Ron Blanchette, passed away. Since learning of his death, I've truly been reawakened to the beauty of this life and the love of the people in it. I must never forget how precious every moment is and how every person I love is a blessing beyond words. My love and thoughts and prayers are with his family. What an amazing person.

Weekend at Zoey's!!!

Sun, 21 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0700

Hello Friends!!! What an amazing weekend! Friday night The WORP Trio (Aaron Winters - drums, Jim Rankin - bass, Hans Ottsen - guitar) had their debut performance at Zoey's Cafe. Phil Salazar joined us as the first WORP Trio special guest. He was amazing as per usual. We recorded it and ended up with one of the best live recordings I've ever been a part of. Check out the music page for a few tracks and I think you'll hear what I mean. If that wasn't enough, Saturday night I returned to Zoey's to join Jonathan McEuen and Phil Salazar for another killer night of music. Thanks, guys, for having me! What a weekend!

Skiforia!!!

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0800

2-1-2010 Hey There Friends!!! Thanks for visiting my website! I type to you on a beautiful Monday afternoon in lovely Ventura, California after an amazing weekend of skiing in Mammoth!!! For those of you unfamiliar with California ski resorts, Mammoth Mountain in Mammoth Lakes, CA, is home to some of the best skiing conditions in the world. I actually skied June Mountain (a smaller neighbor of Mammoth Mountain) to escape the crowds. It was a good choice. One of my dearest friends, Karl Banman, and I skied in the sun all day this past Saturday! The snow was dreamy, the weather was perfect... what a wonderful weekend!!!

Anyhoo, I've got several amazing projects in the works at the moment! Please check out the 'Upcoming Shows' page for approaching performances! My new trio, The WORP Trio, is really developing. Harlem Holler Trio with Phil Salazar and Randy Tico is sounding great. Harlem Holler Trio just rehearsed yesterday for a show at Zoey's later this month. The WORP Trio debuts March 19th. Both projects are very unique and completely different from each other. I can't wait for these shows! Hope to see you at one soon!!!

2010 HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0800

Hey Friends!!!

What a wonderful holiday! I really hope and pray that your holiday was as lovely as mine. We had Zoe, my niece, for her first Christmas. She's the most adorable baby I've ever seen. She always gives me a smile when I talk to her and she stares, transfixed as I play guitar for her. I wrote her a lullaby, Zoe's Lullaby, which I plan to release on my next record (due to be released in 2010). Anyway, Zoe seems to like it which is good enough for me. New Years was extremely fun. We (the Ottsen family that is) threw a big shindig. 50 or 60 people passed through the house throughout the evening. By midnight, about 30 remained to ring in the new year. My new trio, the WORP Trio, was in attendance, which was great because there was a steady stream of killer music all night. I played a bit with the trio. Phil Salazar sat in for a few. A whole gaggle of other musicians played all night. It was great. And thanks to everybody who played. It really made the evening. We had an awesome time. Ashley, my girlfriend, was around as well which only added to the magic. The Ottsen's all love her and enjoy her presence so much. To be able to spend relaxed time with so many of the people I love so dearly in this life, what a truly priceless gift to receive. I'll never forget the holiday season of 2009-2010!!! God bless and may 2010 bring you all peace, love and happiness. Sincerely, Hans Ottsen

Killer night with Phil and Jonathan!

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

I just wanted thank Phil Salazar and Jonathan McEuen for letting me play with them at Zoey's last night. It's such a pleasure to play with musicians of that caliber. Thanks guys!!! I've got a couple pictures. Check out the 'PHOTOS' page!

Hans On Hans 11.15.09 THE VENTURA CAIRNS

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Here's an interesting story. My friend David Schuepbach (known him since kindergarden) and I have been walking each day in Ventura, just for fun and exercise. One of our favorite routes is down at the beach. We like to start at the edge of Pierpont and walk to the end of the Ventura Pier, then up to the end of Surfer's Point where people sometimes build cairns - rocks of varying sizes and shapes, balanced in stacks. We noticed that there were often new cairns of amazing beauty and sublime balance. One day, after a couple months of photographing them, I saw the man who builds the more amazing of the Ventura, CA cairns. He told me his name was "Francis Drake". "It's a family name", he said. So here's to Francis Drake!!! Thanks for your beautiful artwork!!!

Hans On Hans 10.19.09

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Hey There! I have so much cool stuff going on in my life right now, it'd take a whole website to blab it so I won't even try. But check this out! Lorenzo DeStefano, renowned documentary film maker, has asked me to do something very cool, particularly for a bona fide guitar geek like, um, me. In addition to his film making, Lorenzo is also a 20 year friend of legendary jazz guitarist Tal Farlow. When Tal died, he left his Gibson "Tal Farlow" model guitar to Lorenzo. Lorenzo has asked me to play this famous guitar before the screening of his film, "Talmage Farlow", a documentary about Tal. Come hear this beautiful, unique guitar!!!! This Wednesday, October 21st at 6pm @ the Elks Lodge at Main Street and Ash in Ventura. I start playing the guitar for a short set of music (30 minutes) at 6pm!!! Don't be late!!! In addition to "Talmage Farlow", Lorenzos film "Los Zafiros", a flim about the musical group The Sapphires will also be screened. Admission to both films and my little gig before is $10 for everything. An inexpensive way to spend an extremely entertaining Wednesday evening! Thank you, Lorenzo, for the chance to play this beautiful instrument.

I'm an uncle!!!!!!!!

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

My sister, Mollie Lee Folsom (Ottsen) Benton just gave birth to a beautiful 7 pound 2 ounce baby girl named Zoe Lee Benton! Congratulations Mollie and Justin! I love you!!!