Minneapolis bassist Ted Olsen leads his quartet in their debut performance at Berlin. The group plays vibrant, kaleidoscopic original compositions in a kinetic and intuitive style. Accomplished vocalist Aby Wolf will join the quartet during the second set to perform songs from a forthcoming recording project.

Band members:

Ted Olsen - bass
Brandon Wozniak - saxophone
Joe Strachan - piano
Miguel Hurtado - drums
Aby Wolf - vocals

Ted Olsen is a double bassist from Minneapolis, MN, with extensive experience as both a performer and composer. His compositions create bright moments of melody and harmonic color while still allowing for spontaneous interplay. Olsen’s music is steeped in jazz, but is not beholden to tradition—it is forward-looking, yet accessible.

From over 50 original works penned, Olsen has released two albums of original music. His 2017 debut garnered critical praise from the Minnesota Star Tribune: “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.” Additionally, he self-released an EP called “It’s Easy to Pretend” in 2020. Music from these albums garnered Olsen a 2020 McKnight Artist Fellowship in composition.

In 2019, Olsen was named an alternate to the prestigious International Society of Bassists' Jazz Bass Competition. He has been fortunate to share the stage with many stellar musicians, including Michael Cain, Dayna Stephens, Javier Santiago, John Raymond, Tim Sparks, Dean Magraw, Aby Wolf, Eric Mayson, and Steve Kenny. His notable performances include the Twin Cities Jazz Festival, Dakota Jazz Club, First Avenue (MN), Eau Claire Jazz Festival (WI), Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe (MI), Rockwood Music Hall (NY), Nocturne (CO), Fulton Street Collective (IL) and Cafe Coda (WI).

Aby Wolf is a Minneapolis-based vocalist, music maker, and passionate collaborator with an elastic skillset. Whether writing vocal arrangements; fulfilling commissions; or performing in clubs, theaters, and schools everywhere from Brainerd to Bratislava to Beijing, Aby brings palpable joy to whatever endeavor she pursues. She has performed with Dessa, Eric Mayson, and Grant Cutler.