Ted Olsen—Violette
A forthcoming album of chamber works by composer Ted Olsen and the Violette Ensemble
About the Ensemble:
The Violette Ensemble is a chamber group formed by Ted Olsen in 2021 to perform ambitious new works that combine modern jazz, contemporary classical, and songwriting influences on an equal footing.
They perform instrumental pieces and songs that create space for improvisation, storytelling, beauty, dissonance, and vivid expressiveness.
This is music that appeals to the listener’s emotive sensibilities as well as their curiosity.
The ensemble includes international touring artists, acclaimed jazz soloists, Grammy-nominated musicians, and members of the Minnesota Orchestra.
Personnel includes:
Aby Wolf, Eric Mayson- vocals
Alicia McQuerry- flute
John Raymond- trumpet/flugelhorn
Paul Schimming- bass clarinet
Sarah Grimes, Ernest Bisong- violin
Lydia Grimes- viola
Sonia Mantell- cello
Ted Olsen- double bass
Will Kjeer- piano
Ben Ehrlich- drums
About the composer:
In 2020 Ted Olsen was named a
McKnight Fellow by the American
Composers Forum. This album
culminates a prolific period of work
galvanized by the fellowship.
From over 60 original works penned,
Olsen has recorded three albums of original music. His 2017 début garnered critical praise from the
Minneapolis 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.”
As an instrumentalist he has performed with Michael Cain, Dayna Stephens, Javier Santiago, John Raymond, and was an alternate to the prestigious International Society of Bassists’ Jazz Bass competition in 2019.
Split Rock Postcard- Behind the Scenes
