Thomas Ovesen (DK), b. Dec. 4, 1965, JAZZPAR Artist 1995 with the JAZZPAR Combo featuring Prize Winner Tony Coe: Bob Brookmeyer (valve tb), Tony Coe (cl, ts), David Hazeltine (p), Thomas Ovesen (b), Steve Argüelles (d).
   JAZZPAR Artist 1998 with The Jim Hall JAZZPAR 98 Quartet + 4: Chris Potter (s), Jim Hall (g), Thomas Ovesen (b), and Terry Clarke (d) + The chamber string ensemble Zapolski Quartet.

   Ovesen is still another Danish bass wonder. He has been a member of The DRBB since 1991. Also a sought after small group performer and accompanist.
   Ovesen is self-taught and has been a professional musician ever since he 18 years old was appointed to represent Denmark in the big band Eurojazz.    Ovesen has accompanied, toured and recorded with almost every jazz musician living in Denmark. In his capacity as regular bass-player in the Danish Radio Jazz Orchestra for the last seven years, Ovesen has also played with an abundance of foreign stars: Toots Thielemanns, McCoy Tyner, Joe Henderson, Lee Konitz, Bob Brookmeyer, Eliane Elias, Tom Harrell, Art Farmer, Clark Terry, Jerry Bergonzi, Hermeto Pascoal, Jimmy Knepper ... Jim Hall ... and many, many others. Besides playing in the big band Ovesen teaches bass at Rytmisk Musikkonservatorium, Copenhagen, and he has often been used in musicals on Danish theaters.
   "Ovesen impressed as an outstanding instrumentalist and was awarded for his high level of musicianship including his ability to inspire a delicate and complex interplay within different settings", the Leverkusen prize committee said in 89. Reviewers at major Danish papers have continued the accolades describing his playing as incredible flexible, melodic and attentive ... a gift to any jazz-ensemble. The importance of Ovesen's virtuous bass-playing lays also in his ability to tie the music together. Every note has a meaning and a substance. Ovesen seems to overtake the whole Danish bass-elite from the inner lane.
   Thomas Ovesen may be heard on around 70 recordings.