Greg Osby: Biography

• Overview
• Discography
• Biography
• Related Artists

• Videos
• Photos
• Groups/Boards
• Fan Sites

• Steve Coleman
• Graham Haynes
• Gary Thomas
• Lonnie Plaxico
• Geri Allen
• Strata Institute
• Branford Marsalis

• Joe Lovano
• Michael Caglianone
• Matthias Lupri

• Lee Johnson
• Charles Parker

• M-Base Collective
• Strata Institute

• Cassandra Wilson
• Stefon Harris
• Jack DeJohnette
• Kenny Davis
• Joe Marciano
• David Gilmore
• Marvin "Smitty" Smith

Born:

Aug 3, 1960 in St. Louis, MO

Genres:

Classical Music, Jazz Music, Avant Garde Jazz Music, Bop Jazz Music, Free Jazz Music

Decades Active:

1980's|1990's|2000's

Artistic Quality

Medium

Cultural Impact

Medium

Popularity

Low

Ratings Guide

Postbop saxophonist Greg Osby was born April 3, 1960 in St. Louis, playing in a series of RB, funk, and blues units throughout his teen years before attending Howard University. Upon graduating from the Berklee School of Music, he settled in New York City and went on to play behind Jack DeJohnette, Andrew Hill, Herbie Hancock, and Muhal Richard Abrams; during the mid'80s, Osby also served alongside Steve Coleman, Geri Allen, Gary Thomas, and Cassandra Wilson as a member of the renowned MBase Collective. Making his solo debut with 1987's Sound Theatre, Osby went on to record several sets for the JMT label, also earning notice for his impressive contributions to Hill's 1989 date, Eternal Spirit, and its followup But Not Farewell; with 1990's ManTalk for Moderns, Vol. X, he cut his first headling session for Blue Note, with subsequent efforts for the company (including 1993's 3D Lifestyles and 1995's Black Book), pioneering a distinctive fusion of jazz and hiphop. While 1996's Art Forum captured the saxophonist in an acoustic setting, Osby continues exploring new avenues with each successive release, capturing the improvisational intensity of his live dates with 1999's Banned in New York and reuniting with Hill and fellow elder statesman Jim Hill for the following year's The Invisible Hand. 2001's Symbols of Light (A Solution) was a varied effort that witnessed him teaming with a string quartet, while the next year's Inner Circle was an older recording of sessions that featured a knockout version of Bjork's "All Neon Like." Osby teamed with pianist Marc Copland for 2003's Round and Round, while St. Louis Shoes was released that same year on Blue Note. Also released on Blue Note was 2005's Channel Three, which saw Osby working with drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts and bassist Matt Brewer.

- Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide