Chances are that if you know the LA smooth jazz scene you will be more than familiar with arranger, writer, producer and keyboard player Kim Hansen.  Indeed, since his arrival in that city from Denmark in 1997 Kim has become one of the genre’s most sought after side-men, starting out as Musical Director for the Grammy nominated and platinum selling recording artist Maxine Nightingale then going on to tour or record with the likes of Patti Austin, Howard Hewitt, Earl Klugh, Peabo Bryson, Bobby Lyle, Oleta Adams, Doc Powell, Steve Oliver, Jeff Kashiwa, Paul Jackson, Jr., Everette Harp, Nils, Phil Perry, Michael Lington and, significantly, U-Nam with whom he has played many times.  This has included cameo appearances on the ‘U-Nam Live’ DVD and his ‘Give Me The Night’ video.

Now Kim is stepping center stage with his debut solo album from which the infectiously vibrant ‘To The Limit’ is taken.  Not only is it a fine example of smooth jazz circa 2018 but, given he plays both keyboards and all guitars, stands as a glowing tribute to his multi faceted artistry.

Kim’s smooth jazz career really took off through a chance encounter with drummer Ricky Lawson when they were both hired for the same TV show.  Kim quickly came to regard Lawson as his musical mentor and when he booked Hansen for the nationwide ‘Winans Family Reunion Tour’ things began to happen.

Yet all this is a world away from his home country of Denmark where he grew up surrounded by music and started performing local gigs at the age of 13.

His family home reverberated to the sounds of Oscar Peterson, George Benson and even Jimmy McGriff and, as his journey of musical discovery continued apace, he discovered Stevie Wonder, Earth, Wind & Fire and the funk albums of George Duke.  It was Duke’s influence that encouraged Hansen to switch from the B3 to Rhodes and synths but as his fusion orientated tastes continued to develop Herbie Hancock, Michael Brecker, Bill Evans, Steps Ahead and Chick Corea all began to appear on his radar.

While still in high school, Kim joined one of Denmark’s premium touring pop bands, The Servants, with whom he became first studio engineer and on widening his horizons yet further Kim moved to Copenhagen where he began working with The Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra.  Concerts, live television and radio shows all followed as well as well as recording with them on a whole raft of movie scores.

However his love of jazz proved to be the biggest pull of all and after playing in local jazz clubs around Copenhagen the lure of the USA became just too compelling to ignore.

Now, as he continues to write music for both television and movies, Kim Hansen’s musical evolution is entering an exciting new phase.