[1] Ben Webster and Coleman Hawkins were early influences, while he later developed a highly personal sound reminiscent of Zoot Sims.

Early he knew that he wanted to become a professional jazz musician but to get an education he chose to study classical clarinet at the Royal Danish Academy of Music[3] While still a student at the Academy, Thilo joined Arnved Meyer's orchestra where he played from 1960 to 1964 and again from 1967 to 1974 and it was Arnved Meyer who convinced him to shift to saxophone.

In Meyer's band he played with musicians such as Ben Webster, Benny Carter, Harry Edison, Roy Eldridge and Coleman Hawkins.

[3] Besides his engagement in Meyer's orchestra, Thilo also played in his own band, a quintet which he had founded in 1965 and co-lead with Torolf Mølgaard and Bjarne Rostvold.

Compilations: With Tommy Flanagan With Thad Jones With Roland Hanna With Miles Davis With Scott Hamilton