He is known as bandleader of his own Kåre Kolve Quartet, several album releases and the collaborations within the bands "Lava", "Mezzoforte" and "Tre Små Kinesere".

He is known from long time collaboration within the Norwegian jazz rock band "Lava", including four album releases, and the Icelandic jazz rock band "Mezzoforte" (1991–95), including the albums Fortissimos (1991) and Daybreak (1993).

He is one of the driving forces of the band "Mambo Compañeros" together with Marit Hætta Øverli in Trondheim (1996–), including the album Viva Salsa (2003).

Kolve has appeared on releases such as Innerst i sjelen (1994) with Sissel Kyrkjebø, Marit Hætta Øverli and Ole Edvard Antonsen, and he led his own Kåre Kolve Quartet with Espen Berg, including two releases.

Together they performed within an elite team of Norwegian musicians, including Jørn Øien, Ellen Andrea Wang and last but not the least Jarle Vespestad.