Smooth west coast music from Norway…
Songwriter Tom Hansen is based in the city Tønsberg located 10 miles south of the Norwegian capital city Oslo.
On his debut album “Brazilian Night” Tom Hansen has been working with 6 different arrangers, all with inspiration from artists like David Foster, Jay Graydon, Chaka Khan, Mezzoforte, Larry Carlton, Shakatak, as Tom are saying “all arrangers has been raised up with David Foster and has been playing Through The Fire many times”, so you can really hear this at the album.
On “Brazilian Night” the vocalist Victor Brooks and musicians from Lava and other great Norwegian studio musicians are featured at the album.
Late 2013 Tom Hansen released the album Standing Tall featuring the Grammy nominated composer and music director Larry Williams.
At the liner notes of the album Tom Hansen is telling: In 1989 I met Laila Therese Johansen for the first time. She was 13 years old and started in the 7th class at the Revetal Secondary School. I was her teacher in music and she had a very special and beautiful voice. Because of her I started composing music.
15 years old she was asking to sing at the opening show of Norway Cup in Oslo. We were also in Stockholm where she sang at TV 4 introducing a competition as winner of Talent 90 in her local area. “Stay With Me” and “Time To Say Goodbye” were the two songs from those shows. They were recorded by Halstein Larsen. Listen to the Graydon-guitars I asked Halstein to put on “Time To Say Goodbye” !
Some years earlier i meet one of my other producers – multimusician Niles Mathisen. With great help from Nils & Halstein we recorded my first CD in 1992. Aqua-Lene, Line Knudsen, Bjørnar Mikkelsen and Svein Finstad also appeared on that CD and the three last ones also appeared on other CD projects. And Espen Hauge has always been there with his bass.
In 1999 I was introduced to Astrid Tveitan and together we wrote “Enter 2000”. Line, Svein and Astrid had the vocals and we made a great music video at Slottsfjellet with 50 pupils from youth schools in the area around Tønsberg. See the video here.
The last years I have met two new producers; Kenneth Eriksen and Pål Johnsen. And two new pianist – Magne Arnesen and Oliver Tangen who have arranged some songs.
The two last years we have sent songs to the Norwegian Song Contest – “I Feel So Alive” with new vocalists Hugo Lande and Trine Charlotte Askjemn and “Vis Á Vis” with Hugo and Vibecke Wallin.
I have always liked American soun music and fusion and my favorite artists are Al Jarreau, Whitney Houston, Earth Wind & Fire, David Foster, George Benson & Shakatak. After I was introduced to Victor Brooks from LA, we recorded at tribute song to Shakatak called “Brazilian Nights”. I got an email from Bill Sharpe where he told me that it was a very nice song. Victor and I wrote “Special Friend” together and this is one of my best songs.
As a local DJ I always played a Whitney Houston son as the last one before closing time. When she died my brother Bjørn and I wrote a tribute song to her called “Standing Tall” performed by Trine Charlotte Askjem. The new drummer on that song is Anders Viken.
I have always had a dream: that one of my favorite musicians could play on one of my songs. First time I listened to Larry Williams he was playing moog solo on “Spain” with Al Jarreau. So I contacted him on Facebook ! “Send me the song”, he said – and he liked it ! Thanks, Larry !
Discography
Inspirations
TH Music 2024
Tracks: Just Like Graydon, Cabrillo Cruising, Quincy, Only Time Will Tell, L´automne Parisien, Wanne Feel The Heat Again, Savor This, Remembering, See What I See, Going West, I´ll Be Waiting For You, Allting Kommer Ordna Sig, Vårt Eget Paradis, Get Up And Dance & Unexpected Love (Bonus Track).
Musicians on the Inspirations album: Tom Hansen, Tollak Ollestad, Robbie Wyckoff, Terri Green, Urs Wiesendanger, Maurizio Metalli, Wakana, Live Foyn Friis, Dhenibe, Heidi Smith-Solevåg, Eline Smith, Eliza, Hans Christian Nystad, Chris Lund, Hilde Hogsnes, Dag E. Eilertsen, Nils Mathiesen, Helga Hægeland, Liv Neslowe, Ringshaug Skole, Rose Baptiste, Kenneth Eriksen, Per Hillestad, Magne Arnesen, Halstein Larsen, Sabine Stokes, Chris Muzik, Jostein Christensen, Hans Mathisen, Per Mathisen, Geir Sveen, Alain Charmoille, Torbjørn Alfsen, Terje Johannesen, Iselin Main & Glenn Main Henriksen.
Matters Of The Heart
TH Music 2022
Tracks: CD1: My Lady, Matters Of The Heart, We'll Never Know, Stay Tonight, Jeansong, Tell Me Why, Your Dance, LA Go, Summer Wind, Sunrise, Hideaway, Savor This, Time To Move On, The Westcoast Planet, Take A Chance On Love, The Press, Show Me Paradise, Brazilian Night & Song For Hansson. CD 2 - Bonus CD: Enter 2000, As If, Stay With Me, Mr. Westcoast, Never Thought We'd Say Goodbye, Fate, Stay With Me, Friends, Magic Moments, Time To Say Goodbye, Special Friend, I Feel So Alive, A Dream Come True, Standing Tall, Time To Say Goodbye, Vis a Vis, Wessel Song, One More Time, My Greatest Gift Is You & La Oss Rekke Hender Frem.
Musicians to the Matters Of The Heart album: Tom Hansen, Nathan East, John 'JR' Robinson, Peter Friestedt, Kenneth Eriksen, Magne Arnesen, Jeff Pescetto, Espen Hauge, England Brooks, Halstein Larsen, Rose Baptiste, Bjørn Thomassen, Nils Mathisen, Larry Williams, Knut Koppang, Kjell Håkon Andersen, Marit Strømøy, Live Foyn Friis, Erik Skau, Bjørn Olaf Olsen, Jérôme Nigou, Andrea Di Puccio, Egil Bjørnholdt, Wakana Inamura, Rose Baptiste, Elizabeth Mukendi, Kristina Eliassen, Jon-Willy Rydningen, Reidar Vinje Stenvold, Stefan Gunnarsson, William Sikström, Mia Ellingsen Seierstad, Pål Johnsen, Victor Brooks, Line Knudsen, Helge Christensen, Haavard Flaaten, Svein Finstad, Astrid Tveitan, Rheanne Lindeberg, Kjell Håkon Andersen, Marianne Ligaard, Bjørnar Millelsen, Maria Merete Glosli Trøen, Laila Therese Johansen, Hugo Lande, Trine Charlotte Askjem, Truls Gran, Jon Ronander, Hugo Lande, Vibecke Wallin, Monika Wendt-Roznowska, Liv Neslowe & Re-Jentene.
A Taste Of California
TH Music 2015
Tracks: My Lady, Song For Hansson, Brazilian Night, Stay With Me, A Dream Comes True, Vis A Vis, Falling Leaves, Standing Tall (A Tribute To Whitney Houston), T-Party, Special Friend, Mr. Westcoast, Enter 2000, Wessel Song, Magic Moments, Stay With Me, Fate, Time To Say Goodbye & My Lady (Disco Remix/Radio Edit).
Musicians on the A Taste Of California album: Tom Hansen, John “JR” Robinson, Peter Friestedt, Larry Williams, Victor Brooks, Svein Finstad, Nils Mathiesen, Kenneth Eriksen. Line Knudsen, Magne Arnesen, Rheanne Lindeberg, Oliver Tangen, Hig Lande, Trine Charlotte Askjem, Kjell Håkon Andersen, Astrid Tveitan, Halstein Larsen, Oystein Trollsas, Truls Gran, Jon Ronander and others.
Standing Tall
TH Music 2013
Tracks: A Dream Comes True, Standing Tall (a tribute to Whitney Houston), Brazilian Night (a tribute to Shakatak), Vis Á Vis, Jarreau (a tribute to Al Jarreau), Stay With Me (a tribute to David Foster), I Feel So Alive, Special Friend, Enter 2000, Magic Moments, Stay With Me (Instrumental), Friends, Fate & Time To Say Goodbye.
Musicians on the Standing Tall album: Tom Hansen, Larry Williams, Trine Charlotte Askjem, Hugo Lande, Vibecke Wallin, Kenneth Eriksen, Charlotte Gabrielle Auen, Victor Brooks, Svein Finstad, Line Knudsen, Astrid Tveitan, Halstein Larsen, Magne Arnesen, Maria Merethe Trøen, Bjørnar Mikkelsen, Laila Therese Johansen, Anders Viken, Espen Hauge, Pål Johnsen, Nils Mathiesen, Olav Tornes, Kjell Håkon Larsen, Oliver Tangen, Jon Rosslund, Per Olaf Skar, Tejre Johannessen, Dag Einer Eilertsen & Betania Gospelsingers.
Brazilian Night
TH Music 2010
Tracks: Brazilian Night, Special Friend, Remember 2000, Stay With Me, Chaka, Jarreau, Fate, Breeze, Columbus, Magic Moments & Time To Say Goodbye.
Musicians on the Brazilian Night album: Tom Hansen, Victor Brooks, Line Knudsen, Magne Arnesen, Helge Christensen, Espen Hauge, Nils Mathisen, Halstein Larsen, Jon Rosslund, Per Hillestad, Haavard Flaaten, Tejre Johannesen, Dag Einer Eilertsen, Oystein Trollsas, Helge Grinde, Olav Tornes, Kenneth Eriksen, Sigurd Kohn, Svein Dag Hauge & Rose.
The Millennium Project
MTG Productions 2000
Tracks: Enter 2000, Never Thought We´d Say Goodbye, Columbus & Inn I 2000.
Musicians on the Enter 2000 album: Tom Hansen, Svein Finstad, Astrid Tveitan & Line Knudsen.
Dreams
Nordic American Shipping Production 1996
Tracks: Never Thought We’d Say Goodbye, Columbus, Elisabeth, Det Ma Vaere Kjaerlighet, Breeze, Just For You, Fate, Yours Forever, Crusade, Friends, Stay With Me, Lonely Nights, Broken Ecstasy & Elisabeth (Piano Version).
Musicians on the Dreams album: Tom Hansen, Svein Dag Huge, Sigurd Kohn, Halstein Larsen, Jens Petter Antonsen, Nils Mathisen, Helge Christensen, Svein Finstad, Inger Adele Stavik, Bjornar Mikkelsen, Line Knutsen and others.