Greg Osby is a saxophonist and composer, producer, educator and producer who has left an indelible impression on contemporary jazz. He has been a leader of his own jazz ensembles for 20 years and has also performed as a guest artist with other well-respected jazz groups. Osby is highly regarded for his innovative and insightful approach to composition and performance. He is a shining light among the current generation jazz musicians. Osby has won numerous awards and been praised for both his live performances and his recordings. Greg Osby was born and raised in St. Louis and began his professional career in music in 1975 after three years of private lessons on clarinet and flute. Osby was raised in a musical and vibrant city. He began his secondary education with a strong involvement in Blues and Jazz bands. Osby continued his musical education at Howard University in Washington, D.C., where he studied Jazz Studies. From 1980 to 1983, he continued his studies at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. Osby was quickly recognized as a prominent sideman for many artists, including Jack DeJohnette and Dizzy Gillespie. He also worked with Jim Hall, Jaki Byard, Jim Hall, Muhal Richard Abrams and Jim Hall. Osby was invited in 1985 to be a member of Jack DeJohnette’s “Special Edition” group. Osby was able, as a member this group, to refine his ideas in an open-ended, no holds barred musical environment. Osby says that Jack was open to me and encouraged me to continue to experiment. Jack helped me think more clearly about composition and performance. This was a turning point for me as an artist. Osby signed his first record deal in 1987 with JMT (Jazz Music Today), a German label. He felt that music was his best way to capture life. He was free to create as he pleased. For that label, he recorded four CDs. Osby signed with Blue Note Records as a leader in 1990. He recorded fifteen exceptional recordings for the label. Osby started his own label “Inner Circle Music” in 2008 and has since been a platform for many of the most talented artists today. Osby has created many musical essays based on the rhythm of the streets and the language that defines a generation. He uses the jazz improvisational nature to Jazz as the connecting point. Osby’s latest Inner Circle Music recording, “9 Levels,” features special guests: Nir Felder on guitar, Adam Birnbaum on piano, Joseph Lepore on bass, Hamir Atwal drums, and Sara Serpa, vocalist. from http://www.gregosby.com
