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Jesper Thilo (born 28 November 1941) is a Denmark jazz, mainly known as a tenor saxophone, alto saxophone and clarinetist. He is considered to be one of the top European straight-ahead jazz musicians of the post-1970 period. Ben Webster and Coleman Hawkins were early influences, while he later developed a highly personal sound reminiscent of Zoot Sims.
Thilo first recorded as a leader for Storyville Records in 1973 and in the 1980s on Storyville his sidemen at various times included Kenny Drew, Clark Terry and Harry "Sweets" Edison. In the 1980s, he also played in the Ernie Wilkins. Thilo also appears on the Miles Davis album Aura recorded in 1985. In 1991, he worked with Hank Jones in a quintet.
While still a student at the Academy, Thilo joined Arnved Meyer's orchestra where he played from 1960 to 1964 and again from 1967 to 1974 and it was Arnved Meyer who convinced him to shift to saxophone. In Meyer's band he played with musicians such as Ben Webster, Benny Carter, Harry Edison, Roy Eldridge and Coleman Hawkins. During this part of his career his virile Swing music chiefly inspired by Webster and Hawkins. Besides his engagement in Meyer's orchestra, Thilo also played in his own band, a quintet which he had founded in 1965 and co-lead with Torolf Mølgaard and Bjarne Rostvold.
From 1966 to 1989, Thilo was a member of the DR Big Band where he under bandleaders such as Palle Mikkelborg and Thad Jones mainly played alto saxophone but occasionally also tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, baritone saxophone, concert flute, clarinet or bass clarinet.
Through the 1980s, he played in Ernie Wilkins. Other collaborators have included Bill Davison and Niels Jørgen Steen.
In 1989, he left the DR Big Band and Ernie Wilkins's orchestra to lead his own bands with members such as Søren Kristiansen, Olivier Antunes, Hugo Rasmussen og Svend-Erik Nørregaard.
Compilations:
With Roland Hanna
With Miles Davis
With Scott Hamilton
Discography
As a leader
As a sideman
With Tommy Flanagan
With Thad Jones
Awards
Categories: 1941 Births, Living People, Musicians From Copenhagen, Bebop Saxophonists, Cool Jazz Saxophonists, Danish Jazz Musicians, Danish Jazz Saxophonists, Danish Male Saxophonists, Swing Saxophonists, Dr Big Band Members, 21st-century Danish Saxophonists, 21st-century Danish Male Musicians, Danish Male Jazz Musicians, Almost Big Band Members, Storyville Records Artists, Ben Webster Prize Recipients
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