Bob’s Dylan’s “You Ain’t Going Nowhere” certainly doesn’t apply to fellow Minnesotan Tim Olsen, born 20 years after the legendary folk artist.

Olsen grew up in St. Paul and was in high school when he formed his own jazz ensemble, a trio that earned $50 for its first paid gig at a Minneapolis wedding.

He’s gone many places since, in his multi-faceted roles as a composer, performer, band leader and educator.

“I knew I wanted to be a musician from middle school onward,” said Olsen, professor of music and director of the Union College Jazz Ensemble. He cites Maynard Ferguson, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong and Oliver Nelson, along with several of his music teachers, as inspirations.

Olsen trained on the trumpet in marching, concert and jazz bands, then began writing and arranging for these groups. He picked up piano by ear.

He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in music theory and composition from Washington University in St. Louis, a master of arts from the University of Minnesota, and several master’s degrees and a doctorate from Yale. As a 1990 Fulbright Scholar, he studied with noted composer and organist Ib Nørholm at the Royal Danish Conservatory of Music in Copenhagen.

In 1994, Olsen came to Union, where he has served as chair of the Music Department and director of the Africana Studies program. He currently teaches courses in music theory with a specialization in American and Latin American music history and jazz improvisation.

Active as a conductor, trumpet player and keyboardist, Olsen has appeared throughout the Northeast, often with his wife, vocalist Susie Olsen. His compositions have been performed all over North America and Europe.

He also directs a quartet and a quintet, which he leads at the popular Jazz on Jay outdoor concerts in downtown Schenectady. In addition, his 18-piece Tim Olsen Big Band recently kicked off A Place For Jazz series, also downtown. He has released two CDs of original jazz music, available on bandcamp.com"

FIRST APP YOU LOOK AT IN THE MORNING:

I always go to spinitron.com to track any radio play for my recordings; next up is a math puzzle my kids got me hooked on called 2048.

THE LAST GREAT BOOK YOU READ:

“Rumba on the River,” about the development of popular music in the two Congos.

BEST ADVICE YOU EVER RECEIVED:

From an organist friend of mine: "Walk into any room like you own it."

WHAT ARE YOU WATCHING RIGHT NOW?:

I am waiting for the new season of “Stranger Things.”

ONE SKILL YOU WISH YOU HAD:

Better sports skills; my mom was a gym teacher and none of it rubbed off on me.

THREE DINNER PARTY GUESTS (living or deceased):

I'd love to hang out with Bach, Beethoven and Chopin, some of the greatest improvisers in classical music, and see what's going on.

FIRST CONCERT:

Maynard Ferguson Band at the Prom Ballroom in St. Paul, Minn.

LITTLE KNOWN FACT ABOUT YOU:

To pick up some extra cash, one Christmas I played a very skinny mall Santa.

FAVORITE UNION MEMORY/EXPERIENCE:

I’ve had many wonderful experiences over my 30-plus years here. One of my favorite ones has to be performing Civil War-era brass band music to a packed house in Memorial Chapel at ReUnion a few years ago.

ONE THING YOU CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT:

I lived in Denmark for a year and enjoyed the amazing pastries, but realized I missed American doughnuts.