Born
in Durban, South Africa, of Norwegian descent, Nils
grew up in England and is now based in London and
the South East. By the age of ten he was teaching
himself the guitar. After a flirtation with
finger-style ragtime in the folk clubs of the late
60s and early 70s, his life was changed upon hearing
Django Reinhardt, and thereafter he dedicated himself
to pursuing the art of acoustic swing.
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Other
influences followed: Eddie Lang, Oscar Aleman and
George Van Eps, though he subsequently broadened his
style to encompass gypsy jazz, traditional, swing
and mainstream jazz.
He
became a professional musician after leaving art school
in 1974, despite having spent four years studying
illustration at Twickenham College, West London.
He
has had a long association with jazz violinists, notably
the late maestro Johnny van Derrick, Nigel Kennedy,
Mike Piggott, Andy Aitchison and Steve Elsworth and
frequently works with hot guitarist Gary Potter, with
whom he has for several years appeared with the Hot
Club of London at the Kaamos Jazz Festival in Finnish
Lapland (Jazz under the Northern Lights). |
From
1999 to 2001 he recorded and toured the world with
70s rock crooner Bryan Ferry, who released his award-winning
album of 30s standards in '99 - As Time Goes By (Virgin
Records).
His
recent involvement with bass virtuoso Peter Ind, founder
of Wave Records in the 70s, has found the two of them
re-mastering and re-releasing much of the old Wave
catalogue, as well as collaborating on two albums
featuring the duo.
Nils'
collaboration with young English singer Clare Teal
resulted in the CD 'That's The Way It Is', closely
followed by her second release 'Orsino's Songs' and
third, 'The Road Less Travelled' which is rapidly
earning her well-deserved world-wide recognition.
In
this performance at the Southern Jazz Guitar Society
Nils was accompanied on bass by George Trebar. |
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