Biography

Reviews Blue Topaz

Ingemar Ohlsson/Björn Elmgren/Les Jolies/Anna with band

With vocal styling that lands smack in the middle of Tom Jones and Engelbert Humperdinck comes the music project Blue Topaz. This is pure vegas-style vocal pop tunes dramatically performed in English by Swede, Björn Elmgren, and composed by lifelong artist/musician, Ingemar Ohlsson. The songs are expertly written with memorable lyrics and melodies, all blended with full orchestra, backing vocals, and solid band. The music supports Elmgrens voice and his voice rides confidently and emotionally above the composition and gives the gift of sincerity to Ohlssons music. The opening and title track, The Blue Topaz, is the smorgasbord promised as background vocals alaThe Rayettes, spoken words, and composition that stops/starts, changes, and ultimately provides a stage pop performing vehicle for Elmgren. Nice. Track 2, Fly Away, showcases the vocal range of Elmgren, as well as the compositional range of Ohlsson. This samba-ish piece combines Percy Faith-ish background vocals with grooving organ/strings and mood. The long mp3 here, Finding the Way, starts as a riding-trail mover appropriate based on the title. Lyrics describe reaching for a better time, singing a song and searching along...never give up trying again... Track 7, Fly My Souls, is a souring ballad. Elmgren sings, tell my soul how to find hope, tell my soul where she must go, good bye. The final track, Walking in the Night, is a more contemporary mix with single note guitar lines surrounding the vocals and background lushness that has been produced by Ohlsson.
The CD is perfect for anyone who appreciates 50s 60s style pop tunes, stage trained vocals, traditional music/melody writing, and Vegas sensibilities.

Don Kimenker at www.earbuzz.com/bluetopaz Benicia, California, USA




Swedish born true gentleman, professor, composer and virtuoso Ingemar Ohlsson gave me a special treat his Blue Topaz Album to be reviewed on this pages.
Ive enjoyed all 11 songs, vocals by Bjorn Elmgren, choir, the orchestrathe lot.
I am so looking forward to hear his new 14 songs he promised to deliver this summer

Deanna at www.bonafidestudio.co.uk/Reviews.htm London, England


This is the first recorded CD produced by the independent label Blue Topaz records Sweden. On this recording you will discover a Swedish Smörgåsbord of different styles of music from Reggae to Tango, from Latino to Waltzes and from Funk to Romantic Ballades.
You will enjoy: music you can dance to, music to uplift you, music that make you happy, music you can relax to, music you can dream to, music that will speak directly to your soul,
I began to compose this collection of music during the time of my life when I suddenly began to understand the value and importance of all the years I have participated in the music world.
All the kinds of music I have played over those years have left me with different kinds of feelings inside which have helped me to understand and transform myself into whom I really am and shown me what I really want to do: to create music.

Ingemar Ohlsson

BIO
Ingemar Ohlsson started his musical career as both a clarinettist and saxophonist playing in many different bands in his home country Sweden.
At the age of fifteen he started to play the cello. In his late teens, he found full time employment as a military musician, staying for all of six years; in fact even after quitting he still played in the band part-time. During his military career he continued to practise the cello whenever he could. His love of the instrument and his dedication to practise eventually saw him getting a position as cellist in the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra in Sweden.
After a couple of years playing in this orchestra he moved to Prague in the Czech Republic and started to study at the Academy of Music staying for three years before returning back to the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra.
In 1979 Ingemar moved to Malmö and its Symphony Orchestra becoming the co-principal solo cellist and staying there until 1985. During these years he also toured as a member of the EPOS TRIO in many European countries as well as Africa, Japan and Canada. He recorded several radio programmes in Sweden and abroad.
In 1985 Ingemar was appointed Professor at the Brandon University in Manitoba, Canada where he stayed until 1994 teaching cello,
chambermusic, music appreciation as well as conducting the University orchestra. He was also a member of the Brandon University trio and toured extensively throughout Canada. Ingemar even made several radio recordings here, both as a soloist and as a chamber musician. He also played occasionally with the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.
Ingemar moved back to Sweden 1994 and started freelancing as a soloist/chamber musician and conducting. It was during this time he composed his first musical The Golden Girl which he toured with in Sweden. This experience encouraged him to continue to produce and conduct musicals and operas. At the same time he also conducted the chamber orchestra Collegium A. Dvorak for many years while on tour in Sweden and in the Czech Republic: Together they also recorded a CD with Czech music. Ingemar was often invoted to be a guest conductor in Sweden, Poland, Germany and in the Czech Republic.
In 2000 Ingemar started his own orchestra The GOLDEN Prague Chamber Orchestra and his own music management company in Prague in the Czech Republic while, at the same time he toured as a solo-cellist, conducting, teaching and composing two musicals the Godfather and the Bird.