Saxophonist and composer Greg Osby will be artist-in-residence Oct. 29-31
Greg Osby. Courtesy photo.
"We're thrilled to be having Greg Osby joining us for three days of master classes and a performance with our students. He is one of the pre-eminent voices in contemporary jazz and will excite and inspire us all," says John Gunther, director of jazz studies.
Osby has made an indelible mark on contemporary jazz as a leader of his own ensembles and as a guest artist with other acclaimed jazz groups for the past 20 years. Highly regarded for his insightful and innovative approach to composition and performance, Osby is a shining beacon among the current generation of jazz musicians. He has earned numerous awards and critical acclaim for his recorded works and passionate live performances.
Born and raised in St. Louis, Osby began his professional music career in 1975 after three years of private studies on clarinet, flute and alto saxophone. In 1978 Osby continued his musical education at Howard University, where he majored in Jazz Studies. He continued his studies at the Berklee College of Music from 1980 to 1983.
Upon relocating to New York in early 1983, Osby quickly established himself as a notable and in demand sideman for artists as varied as Herbie Hancock, Dizzy Gillespie, Jack DeJohnette, Andrew Hill, Muhal Richard Abrams, Jim Hall and Jaki Byard as well as with many ethnic and new music ensembles in the New York area.
In 1985 Osby was invited to to join Jack DeJohnette's innovative group, Special Edition. It was as a member of this ensemble Osby was able to fine tune the more challenging aspects of his conception in an open ended, no holds barred musical situation.
"My musical thinking for performance and composition advanced by light years as Jack was open to my input and was very encouraging in pushing me to to maintain a steady flow of experimentation. It marked a major turning point in my development as an artist," Osby says.
In 1987, he signed his first recording deal with a new German label , JMT (Jazz Music Today), where he was given free creative reign and recorded four CDs. Osby signed with Blue Note Records in 1990 and recorded fifteen outstanding recordings for that label as a leader. In 2008, Osby launched his own label, , which serves as a platform for many of today's brightest artists. From the pulse of the streets and the language of a generation, Osby has sketched numerous musical essays set to a contemporary score using the improvisational nature of Jazz as the connecting thread.
On 9 Levels, his latest recording, Osby presents his compositions in a sextet format and is joined by special guests, Nir Felder, guitar, Adam Birnbaum, piano, Joseph Lepore, bass, Hamir Atwal, drums, and vocalist Sara Serpa.
Greg Osby with students from the CU-Boulder College of Music
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30
Where: Grusin Music Hall
Admission: Free and open to the public
Contact: John Gunther, john.gunther@colorado.edu or 303-735-1492.