Episode Highlights:

• From St. Louis to the World Stage: Greg Osby shares how growing up surrounded by live music in St. Louis bars and his mother's record distribution job shaped his non-biased appreciation for all genres of music
• The "Mad Clown Music" Revelation: A candid conversation with his sister led Osby to completely rethink his compositional approach, resulting in his 2023 album Minimalism
• Bridging the Gap: Osby discusses his intentional shift toward accessibility—removing excess information to reach beyond the "jazz intelligentsia" and connect with everyday listeners
• Andrew Hill's Legacy: The saxophonist pays tribute to his mentor Andrew Hill, who called him "the son he never had," and explains how Hill's stutter influenced the composition "Thank You for Your Time."
• The Post-Hip-Hop Generation: Osby's optimistic view of young musicians today, who are developing faster than ever, thanks to digital access, while still needing real-world apprenticeship
• Upcoming SF Jazz Performance: Details on his intimate shows at the Joe Henderson Lab with pianist Tal Cohen and Bay Area musicians Jemele Ramirez (drums) and David Ewell (bass)

Songs Played

1. "Minimalism" – Greg Osby (from Minimalism, 2023)

2. "Thank You for Your Time" – Greg Osby (from Minimalism, 2023)

Music supplied by and used with permission from Greg Osby.

Show Information:

Greg Osby at SF Jazz
Joe Henderson Lab
Sunday, February 1, 2026
Showtimes: 6:00 PM & 7:30 PM
Tickets: sfjazz.org

Links:

• Greg Osby Official Website: gregosby.com
• Backstage Bay Area: backstagebayarea.com