Guitarist/Teacher - Hans Ottsen - Hans' Thoughts

Mom's Birthday

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0800

12.6.2011 Hello friends. It's my Mother's birthday tomorrow so I want to express my love for her and my appreciation for all the years of support she has given me. Her example has shown me what a teacher of music can really do. It's the ultimate inspiration. Thank you Mom.

On the Hans front, many awesome things in the works. Stay tuned...

Towards the end of 2011

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700

10.06.2011 Hello my dear friends. Many changes these past few months. I've been focusing on balancing my music with a healthy soul, body, and mind. And to my deepest satisfaction, I've found it to be going very well. I'm started a new teaching position at the Thacher School, a boarding school in beautiful Ojai, CA. I've met many wonderful young people with a deep passion for learning. The privilege of teaching these kids has left me with a deep feeling of gratitude. In addition to teaching my primary instrument, guitar, I'm also teaching bass and ukelele. I find myself driving to this unique and breathtakingly beautiful town, Ojai, in the morning, listening to music and smiling in spite of myself. On the music front, I've been working on shattering the old patterns of thinking. I've noticed that it's easy to deny how easily we fall into repetitive patterns of thinking, a dangerous state for any improvisational musician. For 20 years I've approached my art form in certain ways I would have regarded (had I even considered it) as limiting and somewhat dishonest. So as we approach the new year, I'm excited (though admittedly a little nervous) about increasing my awareness and attempting to play music in a more honest and holistic way. I've come to realize that discomfort can be a good thing. When out of my comfort zone, I finally recognize a state of primed reception for learning, growth, and the potential for real expression. I'll keep ya posted on how it goes. Sunday, October 9th, 'By Light Of Night" (the Ashley Broder/Hans Ottsen duo) will be performing at Underwood Farms. I'm so honored to make music with a soul such as Ashely's. She truly challenges me and the result, for me, is a much deeper appreciation of the correlation between musical diversity and the beautiful variety one might recognize, if so moved, on this beautiful planet, the universe, multiverse... The WORP Trio will be performing at J's Tapas in Ventura on October 28th. High time too. I miss rocking out with Aaron Winters and Jim Rankin. It's gonna be more than fun. I've been rehearsing with Phil Salazar and Randy Tico (The Harlen holler Trio) and we'll be performing soon so stay tuned. Randy Tico and I are also working of a duo project which is gonna be so fantastic for me. So many other projects and conglomerations of existing projects as well. So much more to come. Blessings to you all.

4.27.2011

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0700

4.27.2011 Hello my dear friends. This past Friday night The WORP Trio (Jim Rankin - bass/vocals, Aaron Winters - drums, and me on guitar) reemerged from hiding (actually just rehearsing and recording) to play a show atJ's Tapas in Ventura. What a great night. We had Coltrane on deck but we didn't end up needing to draw. The night was a night of grooves both familiar and un, funk, rock and roll, blues, and even a little jazz (to keep me happy:) My love, Ashley Broder got some terrific photos which you can enjoy on the 'Photos' page of this here site. There will be more to come from The WORP Trio so please, stay tuned. In other news, many different projects in the works. Harlem Holler Trio (Phil Salazar - fiddle, Randy Tico - bass, and me on guitar) is recording its first record which should be available by the Fall. My new trio, The Hans Ottsen Trio (Randy Tico - bass, Aaron Winters - drums, me on guitar) is developing some terrific jazz. It'll be the Jekyll to WORP's Hyde. I'll letcha all know whenH.O.T. debuts. Finally, I gotta say, Ashley Broder is not only a fantastic photographer. It just so happens she's one of the most talented violinists/mandolinists/cellists I've ever heard. We are playing more and more gigs together and are planning a very exciting recording which will hopefully be available by the end of the Summer. The name of our band, as well as the name of our record, will be revealed in good time. In the mean time, enjoy the beautiful weather in this beautiful corner of the planet: Ventura, California. Blessings to you all.

2011-03-14

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0700

3.14.2011 Hello friends! What a fantastic weekend. The Harlem Holler Trio played to a packed house at Zoey's Friday night. Many thanks to all of you who came out to support us. And special thanks to HHT, Phil and Randy, for being such stellar musicians and fabulous human beings. I also want to thank my love, Ashley Broder, for the awesome photos she took of the band. You can check them out on the 'Photos' page of this website. You can see one of them just below. FYI, Harlem Holler Trio is working on a recording which should be available by Fall 2011. Namaste!

3.9.2011

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0800

3.9.2011 Hello friends! It seems as if every day I wake up I feel more and more gratitude for this life. Music fills my mind and heart. I'm surrounded by lovely, talented, encouraging musicians. I get to play in several amazing ensembles. I've got the most beautiful, brilliant girlfriend in the multiverse, who just happens to be one of the fantastic musicians with whom I collaborate. My family is the most supportive, loving family a guy could ever dream of. My niece Zoe is fantastic. I get to babysit her at least once a week which is more fun than I can describe. I've got a magnificent batch of talented students. How did get so lucky??? This Friday, March 11th, is the return of THE HARLEM HOLLER TRIO! We're once again playing one of our favorite venues in Ventura, Zoey's Cafe. We will be performing a collection of tunes from our upcoming recording as well as new arrangements of some of the old favorites. And thee gig happens to be on Randy Tico's (bass player extraordinaire) birthday, which will transform the gig into a gig/birthday bash! I can't wait! It's gonna be so much fun!!! I truly hope all of you are finding 2011 full of love, joy, and inspiration. Namaste.

2.12.2011

Sat, 12 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0800

2.12.2011 Greetings my friends! Welcome to hansottsen.com. Wonderful things in motion. Tomorrow is the JohnScofield Trio/Bill Frisell Trio concert at The Lobero Theater in Santa Barbara. I've been looking forward to this for a year now. What an amazing event! Two of my absolute favorite musicians at one venue on the same night!!! In more local news, The WORP Trio had it's first gig of 2011 at the Ventura Fairgrounds last weekend. We had a great time and I'm really looking forward to much more WORPing this year. The Harlem Holler Trio is back in full effect. Randy Tico, Phil Salazar, and I have been recording in Phil's new studio and the band is taking it to a new level of improvisational creativity. The next Harlem Holler Trio show open to the public is gonna be at Zoey's (Ventura) on March 11th. Check out the 'Upcoming Shows' page for more details. Next Friday night is the Spring Swing Dance with The Ventura Jazz Orchestra (February 18th at The Poinsettia Pavilion in Ventura (see the 'Upcoming Shows' page). That will be my final performance as a full time member of The Ventura Jazz Orchestra. I've had a terrific time playing in this band. Sad though I am to be moving on from such a great group of musicians and the best bandleader a guy could hope to have, Dean Adams, the reasons why I'm leaving are all positive. I'm looking forward to devoting more time to my increasing number of gigs, my other bands, a couple very exciting new projects as well as my own composing and recording. I hope 2011 has been kind to all of you so far. Namaste!

1-12-2011

Wed, 12 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0800

1.12.2011 Well, yesterday was 1.11.11 and I forgot to look at my watch at 11:11 and 11 seconds. Oh well. I guess I'll have to wait till November:) This year is getting off to a terrific start! I'm looking forward to another year of music, creativity, fascination, love, and fulfillment. The Harlem Holler Trio will be playing Zoey's on March 11th (see the Upcoming Shows page of this site for details). Phil Salazar has created a dynamite studio with Protools 9 which has already yielded some wonderful things (check out Phil and my duo recording of Celtic Air on the Listen page of this site). I'm very much looking forward to recording more of my projects, especially the long awaited HANSolo Volume 1- Standards. The Ventura Jazz Orchestra is on the up and up. A new website is in the works, thanks to Glenn Novack. Check it out at http://www.venturajazzorchestra.com. We've got several shows on the horizon. The WORP Trio is still going strong although we've had to pause due to some very sad news. WORP Trio bassist Jim Rankin's mother passed away this past Friday January 7th. Jim and his family are in my thoughts and prayers. I regret not having the opportunity to meet her. She sounds like an amazing lady. Jim is sure she'd have loved hearing The WORP Trio. May she rest in peace. And may 2011 bring you all peace, love, joy, and fulfillment.

12.18.2010

Sat, 18 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0800

12.18.2010 Wrapping up 2010! Is it me or did this year totally fly by? Today's my Dad's birthday. Happy Birthday Dad! Played a leukemia fundraiser tonight with Phil Salazar and Gene Rubin. Thanks guys! The WORP Trio had their last 2010 rehearsal this morning. What a band. Now: Off to enjoy the loveliest rain storm in recent memory. I wish all of you peace. happiness, and positivity through the holidays and into 2011.

SEASONS GREETINGS!!!

11.9.2010

Tue, 09 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0800

11.9.2010 HAPPY BIRTHDAY ASHLEY!!! Yup, it's my girlfriend's birthday and all is well. Beautiful Fall weather in Ventura: blue skies, cool temperatures, another perfect day in paradise. Got some new gigs up on the Upcoming Shows page. Ventura Jazz Orchestra & Harlem Holler Trio are getting ready for some new shows. The WORP Triois gonna be rockin' the fairgrounds. Also, some very exciting duo projects are in the works! Ashley Broder/Hans Ottsen Duo and Randy Tico/Hans Ottsen Duo are both on the horizon. Stay tuned for more!!! Hope life is treating you all as well as it's treating me!!!

10.22.2010

Fri, 22 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0700

10.22.2010 Hello my friends. So many wonderful things happening right now. As you can tell from the 'Upcoming Shows' page, I've taken some time off from performing. I'm working on some recording projects and rehearsing with several amazing bands. The WORP Trio is working on new material. I'm really having a ball with that band. Harlem Holler Trio, after a Summer's hiatus, is back in full effect. Phil Salazar, Randy Tico, and I are planning a new recording. I've got a few new live tracks up on the 'Listen' page. Speaking of Randy Tico, he and I are hoping to do some duo gigs in the near future so stay tuned. HANSolo, my solo guitar recording project, is still in the works. I was hoping to be finished by now but... better late than rushed. Solo guitar offers so many possibilities, I'm just trying to get it right. I'll keep you posted on that one. The Ventura Jazz Orchestra is going strong. We've got a new male vocalist with whom I'm very happy, Glenn Novack. He sounds terrific. It's such a privilege for me to play with an 18 piece big band. How many people get to do that every week? Anyhoo, off to practice. I hope this update finds you all well and happy.