Union Professor and Ensemble Director Tim Olsen Leads Student Musicians

Six sax or clarinet players, two trumpeters, four trombonists (one also sings), two pianists, two guitarists (one also plays bass), two bassists, three drummers/percussionists and nine singers. That’s the Union College Jazz Ensemble, kicking off the Jazz on Jay season Thursday with the largest crew ever in this free series.

At 31 players and singers strong, the ensemble numbers nearly as many years as its director Tim Olsen has taught at Union as professor, composer, conductor, trumpeter, pianist and trombonist.

“I knew I wanted to be a musician from middle school onward,” says Olsen, citing trumpeters Louis Armstrong and Maynard Ferguson as inspirations, also composers, arrangers and bandleaders Duke Ellington and Oliver Nelson. Olsen formed his first band in high school, earning his first fee of $50 playing a St. Paul wedding. 

Tim Olsen plays a trumpet solo while leading his Big Band to open the 2024 season of A Place for Jazz. He also played piano and conducted the ensemble, which filled the stage at SUNY Schenectady County Community College Carl B. Taylor Auditorium.

Training intensively and at length, he earned his bachelor’s degree in music theory and composition at Washington University in St. Louis, a master of arts from the University of Minnesota (his home state), several more masters and a doctorate from Yale. After studying organ at the Royal Danish Conservatory of Music in Copenhagen as a Fulbright Scholar, Olsen found his place teaching and performing at Union in 1994.

He teaches in classrooms and practice rooms, directs a quartet, a quintet and a big band, records and performs original music. His 18-piece Tim Olsen Big Band, co-starring singer/wife Susie Olsen, opened the 2024 season at A Place for Jazz. He’s also launching Jazz on Jay’s season today, leading his students.

“I don’t really have an audition process the way a traditional orchestra, concert band, or choir might,” Olsen said. “Students show up at the beginning of the term. They sit in, and if they’re comfortable, they stay. If not, they go back to the practice room and work on technique and sight-reading.”

At Jazz on Jay Thursday, “We’re playing a wide spectrum of jazz and related pop music,” including the big band swing of Lionel Hampton’s “Flying Home,” the Andrews Sisters’ “Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree,” cool jazz of Miles Davis and Gil Evans in “Boplicity,”  pop standards “Mack the Knife,” “Danke Schoen” and “Big Spender” – plus Raye’s contemporary sound in “Where Is My Husband.” In addition, Olsen predicted some groups in the Ensemble would play originals.

“We’re featuring our (nine!) vocalists at the end,” said Olsen. “There should be close to 30 people on the stage.” He checked the Jazz on Jay stage recently: “We think we can fit everyone.”

Jazz on Jay is presented by the ElectriCity Arts and Entertainment District. 

Sponsors are the New York State Council on the Arts, a Schenectady County Legislature Arts & Culture Grant, Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corporation and The Schenectady Foundation. We also receive support from Schenectady City Hall and this blog.

The series comprises 13 concerts, all presented free. 

Show time is 12 noon Thursdays at Jay Square opposite City Hall. If the weather turns too wet or warm, Jazz on Jay concerts move indoors to Robb Alley at Proctors.