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Ted Hefko's sound is at once old and new. An avid composer, he is capable of presenting an evening of entirely original compositions, each memorable piece setting a unique mood. Yet he draws from almost a century's worth of music as he peppers his sets with choice standards from traditional and modern jazz, folk and country, to R&B and world music, . All of these various elements are tied together with a bold, robust tenor sax sound and a mature, refined artistic sense.

A ten-year veteran of the New Orleans music community, Ted Hefko recently moved to New York to take advantage of the opportunities New York has to offer, and immerse himself in the city's vibrant modern jazz scene.

Some highlights of his time in the Crescent City include:

  • 2002-2003 Warren Battiste Quartet: performed weekly at El Matador with jazz guitar legend, Warren Battiste (Illinois Jaquette, Sonny Rollins, Etta James).

  • 2002-2003 Ted Hefko Quartet: Ted led his own original jazz quartet, which performed weekly at The Blue Nile on Frenchmen Street.

  • 2003 Ted appeared at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival with New Orleans' oldest Latin band, Los Sagitarios and also with contemporary R&B singer, Tondrae.

  • 2001-2002 Blake Amos and Saudade, This Brazilian-influenced original band, featuring Hefko on saxophone and flute, won the 2002 Gambit Magazine Readers' Poll.

  • 1999-2001 Ted was on the road for a good part of three years leading the New Orleans-based jazz/fusion group idletime. Their 2000 CD, “Time Stops...,” written and produced by the band, featured two of Hefko's originals and was released nationally under Louisiana Red Hot Records. The group toured nationally, opening for such great acts as the Funky Meters, Rebirth Brass Band, Leo Neocentelli, and George Porter and the Runnin' Pardners.

  • Ted received his B.F.A. in Jazz Performance, Cum Laude, from the Music Department of the University of New Orleans in 2000, where he studied with greats such as Ellis Marsalis, Harold Battiste, Steve Masakowski and saxophonist Ed Petersen (Benny Goodman, Ella Fitzgerald, Von Freeman and many others). As a student, he also had the opportunity to perform with New Orleans legends such as Nicholas Payton, Mark Whitfield, Kermit Ruffins, and Henry Butler.

Since moving to New York in the summer of 2003, Ted has been active in exploring several diverse music scenes. In addition to leading his own jazz ensembles, Ted has worked with a wide-variety of acts including, Melee, Luxo 100, Milo Z and the Z-Funk Allstars, Fuerza Brava, Assiko, Preacher Robbins, Louis Elderlane Experience, and Brilho de Luz.

Indeed, his original saxophone sound is at home in just about any musical setting, whether jazz, R&B, or even progressive rock. Hefko, having also performed with Brazilian, West African, and Reggae groups, as well as touring with Johnny Angel's Swingin' Demons, and studying under avant-garde saxophonist Hanah Jon Taylor, draws from a wide variety of influences as he projects a style well rooted in tradition yet relevant to today's listening audiences.

Like all musicians of New Orleans experience, Ted believes it's important, above all, that the audience has a great time.