Some people can do what they like. Take Jan-Olof Strandberg, for example, a slammin' bass player and a brilliant instrument designer. His first solo album At The Music Box has been the talk of the bass-playing community and the in crowd of the music critics camp has also been singing his praises.Strandberg's collaboration with Neuser and EBS has elevated the tools of his trade to another level. Neuser's handcrafted bass designed by Strandberg has met the demands of such worlds-class starts as Stanley Clarke and Armand Sabal-Lecco. Strandberg's promotional performances and clinics with EBS bass amplification systems have also been breaking new ground for state-or-the-art bass sound.

On his first MUN-Records outing At The Music Box on the Showcords label Strandberg immerses himself in the essential nature of bass guitar. Strong groove-oriented tracks like A personality Machine and The Real Jysky Groove are killer blows for fusion freaks. They also include mind-boggling drum breaks and rhythms be Rami Eskelinen (of Trio Töykeät fame) and studio ace Anssi Nykänen.

Classic Elements reveals the full spectrum of bass guitar sound to the max. What You Need presents the funky side of things with a simple but brilliant melody. Strandberg's own production Dead End is mesmerized by hypnotic funk metal beats. The guitar solo of Sami Virtanen adds the icing on the cake.

Born in Helsinki, Finland on November 5, 1956, Jan-Olof Strandberg grew up listening to the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Jethro Tull and Black Sabbath. He picked up the bass at age 14 and played & fooled around with his friends. He studied music at the Pop-Jazz Conservatoire in Helsinki and also pursued upright bass studies at the Music Conservatory of Helsinki with Pekka Sarmanto and Jussi Jarvas.

It was at this period that Strandberg was introduced to the music of Miles Davis. The album In A Silent Way really turned his head around. Strandberg played his first gig in Pori with rock legend Rauli "Badding" Somerjoki. His first recording session was with Funky President 1978. During 1981-82 Strandberg toured with Steel City, which also featured singer Katja Kokkola. Nowadays, known as Katja Koo, she's a household name and a platinum-selling artist in Finland in her own right.

In 1984 Strandberg and Right Hand Hänninen founded a band called F.F. which recorded an album and a few singles with vocalist Bianca Morales. Blues aficionado and harmonica master Pepe Ahlquist hired Strandberg for a European tour in 1986-87. After that Strandberg worked and recorded with guitarist Ile Rantamäki during 1987-94.Collaboration with bass manufacturer Neuser and EBS bass amplification systems began 1990. Three years later Strandberg started to design for Neuser. His debut album At The Music Box was released in 1995. A new Strandberg album is scheduled for 1997.