Greg Osby on Minimalism, Mentorship, and the Evolution of Modern Jazz

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 musicThe "Mad Clown Music" Revelation: A candid conversation with his sister led Osby to completely rethink his compositional approach, resulting in his 2023 album MinimalismBridging the Gap: Osby discusses his intentional shift toward accessibility—removing excess information to reach beyond the "jazz intelligentsia" and connect with everyday listenersAndrew 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 apprenticeshipUpcoming 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 Played1.    "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 JazzJoe Henderson LabSunday, February 1, 2026Showtimes: 6:00 PM & 7:30 PMTickets: sfjazz.org Links:Greg Osby Official Website: gregosby.comBackstage Bay Area: backstagebayarea.com