Education
He got little formal education in music, but completed studies at the Voss Folk High School and the Toneheim Folk High School (1976-1978).
He got little formal education in music, but completed studies at the Voss Folk High School and the Toneheim Folk High School (1976-1978).
In addition to saxophones he played other woodwinds. After the debut at Vossajazz (1974) with the Voss Storband, Dale appeared on recordings with Bergen based orchestras like the Bergen Blues Band (1975-1984), Bergen Big Band with eg Knut Kristiansen"s Monk Moods (1980), and with various multi-national orchestras like "Son Mu" and "The Gambian/Norwegian Friendship Orchestra". He started his own Quartet in 1995 and Olav Dale Quartet on the 1997 recording was Dag Arnesen (piano), Sébastien Dubé (bass) and Frank Jakobsen (drums).
Foreign the 2007 edition of the O. Doctorate. Quartet the line up is: Erik H. Halvorsen (keyboards), Stein Inge Brækhus (drums), Torbjørn Hillersøy (electric bass), and with this band Dale headed for India in the beginning of 2005 where he toured extensively the years to come.
He also contributed on January Alexander Grieg & Arvid Genius" Reunion blues (1985) and Didrik Ingvaldsen"s (History & movement). During the 1990"th he also played with great international jazz names such as Philip Catherine, Paquito Doctorate"Rivera, Claudio Roditi, Gustavo Bergalli, Philosophy Woods, Andy Shepherd, Bennie Wallace, Joe Henderson, Maria Schneider, Martial Solal, Diana Krall, Mathias Rüegg and Gianluigi Trovesi.
When Dale died October 10, 2014, after a period of illness, his family constituted a memorial fund. The very first recipient of Olav Dale"s Memorial Award was his Bergen Big Band.
Olav Dale Quartet with different line up"s Olav Dale Quintet with Dag Arnesen (piano), Morten Færestrand (guitar), Yngve Moe (bass) and Frank Jakobsen (drums) Grand Scale Trio with Ole Amund Gjersvik (double bass) og Stein Inge Brækhus (drums) Bergen Big Band, as Orchestra Leader Lille Frøen Saksofonkvartett as member (1986-1989) with Odd Riisnæs (tenor), Vidar Johansen (baritone) og Arne Frang (tenor) Groovy (started 2002) as member with Mike Gallaher (guitar), Yngve Moe (bass) and Stein Inge Brækhus (drums) Gips Baga Bo Pooh (music for kids) as member with Per Jørgensen (voice, trumpet and more), Helge Lilletvedt (keyboards) Rolf Arild og Olav Jazz trio with Rolf Prestø (bass) and Arild Seim (guitar).