Ted Olsen is a bassist and composer based in Minneapolis, MN. In 2017, his album Joyfire was lauded for its “sprawling yet cohesive songcraft” (Star Tribune). Another release featuring exclusively original pieces is the independently released EP- it’s easy to pretend. (2020). A stalwart of the Twin Cities music scene, he is regularly enlisted by jazz luminaries and also works with folk, rock, R&B, and classical artists. His bass playing has been featured on 12 recordings and he was an alternate to the 2019 International Society of Bassists’ Jazz Bass Competition. In 2020, he was awarded a McKnight Artist Fellowship in composition. 
 He can most frequently be seen leading his own group locally at the Black Dog Café and Icehouse, and also has performed at: Twin Cities Jazz Festival, Eau Claire Jazz Festival, Rochester (MN) Jazz Festival, Drake University (IA), U of WI – River Falls, Uncommon Ground (Chi., IL), Nocturne (Denver, CO.) and Rockwood Music Hall (NY, NY). He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Northern Colorado.

“The sprawling yet cohesive songcraft on Ted Olsen’s new album, “Joyfire,” attests to why he won an American Composers Forum award five years ago and followed it up as a finalist for the ASCAP Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composers Awards in 2015.” – Star Tribune

“Playing with the same swinging post bop that has distinguished their performances at the Black Dog and other local venues, the quartet romps through a setlist of Ted’s original compositions.” – jazzpolice.com

As leader

Joyfire

Featured

Where You’re Planted

Quartets