JeffOsterBiography

OftendescribedasMilesDavismeetsPinkFloyd,trumpet/flugelhornartistJeffOsterissettoreleasehisfourthalbumnextspring.Jeff’ssoundisauniquecombinationofhisparents’influencesof30sand40slyricalstandardsandhisownpassionforprogressiverock,withsomejazz/funkthrowninforgoodmeasure.Asachild,hisfatherwouldsingthestandardsasJeffwouldplayhistrumpet.Hishornbecamehisvoice,singingthelyrics.Andashistasteinmusicdeveloped,Jeffbegantoaddhisloveofprogressiveandjazz/funkmusicintohisownsongs–mixingthegrooveandthehauntingsoundofhishornwithpeoplewalkingortalking,thesoundsofnature,andmore.AfteryearsofplayingjazzandfunkmusicinLosAngelesclubsintheeveningsanddrivingalimoduringthedaytomakeendsmeet,Jeffchoseanunusualpathforamusician–hebecameafinancialplannerattheurgingofafriend.Ashisbusinesscareergrew,thislifestyleaffordedhimtheluxurytoapproachhismusicwithacomfortthatothermusiciansmaynothave.“IhavethefreedomtoplaymusicexactlythewayIwanttoplayit,”explainsJeff.“AndIgettoplaywiththepeopleIalwaysdreamedofplayingitwith.”In2002,Jeff’smusictransformedintowhatitistodaywiththesimplepurchaseofaSonyVaiocomputer.Creatingacombinationofelectronicsynthloops,ambientsounds,andhisownflugelhorn,Jeffdevelopedtheuniquesoundthathehasbecomefamousfor:layeredsoundscapeswithaleadmelodyandhornarrangementsthatperfectlyharmonizewiththerestofthesong.WhenJeffuploadedhisnewambient-stylesoundstomp3.com,hequicklytoppedtheambientchartsthere,andknewhewasontosomethingfreshanddifferent.Encouragedbyhisonlinesuccess,Jeffdecidedtocreatehisfirstalbum,andfollowedhisdreamsbyreachingouttooneofhisheroes,Grammy-winningguitaristandproducerWillAckerman,founderofWindhamHillRecords.JeffhasnowrecordedthreealbumswithWill:Released(2005),True(2007),andnownext(2015).HealsoreleasedSurrender(2011)(co-producedbyJeffandBryanCarrigan).Hisalbumshavefeaturedwell-knowncontributorssuchasBruceSwedien,mixingengineerforMichaelJackson’sThriller,guitaristNileRodgers,iconicbassistChuckRainey,legendarydrummersBernardPurdieandKeithCarlock,andGrammy-nominatedartistssuchaspianistPhilipAabergandbassistMichaelManring.

Jeff’smusichasearnednumerousawards–suchasZMRAlbumoftheYear(3xwinner),multiple#1albumsonNPR’sEchoes,and2xwinnerofBestNewAgeSongintheIndependentMusicAwards.HismusicreceivessteadyairplayonSirius/XM,MusicChoice,andavarietyofotherprogramsworldwide.Withhisnewestalbum,next,Jeffbringshishornfrontandcenter–you'llhearhisunmistakabletonefloatingoverthese12newtrackslikeneverbefore.ForJeff,thisalbumisaboutrebirthandchange,andtellsthestoryofwhat’snextforhim,bothasamusicianandinhislife.“nextisaboutclaimingwhoIam,andwhoI'vealwayswantedtobe,”saysJeff.“It’swhyIlive.Ittakesstrengthandpowertostepoutintotheunknown.Noteveryoneopensthedoorandtakestherisktotrysomethingnew,somethingyou'vedreamedofforyears.Andwithuncertaintycomesthejoyoffreedom.Thisalbumrepresentsmymomenttotrulymakeastatement…toclaimmyplaceasamusicianwithsomethingimportanttoshare.”Withnext,Jeffcreatesanewgenre–NewAgeAmbientFunk–andalongfortherideareguitaristNileRodgers(Chic,DaftPunk,DavidBowie,Madonna)onthetitletrack,andfivesongscreatedduringalegendarysessionwiththeduoofdrummerBernard“Pretty”PurdieandbassistChuckRainey–musiciansthathehasadoredforgenerations.BernardandChuckarefeaturedonfivetracks,includingJeff’sfirstcoversong,ICan’tMakeYouLoveMe,sungbyBonnieRaitt–asongthathasalwaysresonatedwithhim,expressingthedeepfeelingsofpainandjoy,aswellastheopennessandvulnerabilitythatoccurwhenyouopenyourhearttolove.YoucanalmosthearJeff’shornsingingthewords…“Bonniepouredherheartandsoulintothissong,andIdidthesamewithmyhorn.Ifshecouldsinglikeahornplayerplays,tome,thisiswhatitwouldsoundlike,”describesJeff.“Myperformanceembodiesthevoiceofmyheart,withoutwords,andthatiswhatmyhornplayingisallabout.IfyouwanttoknowwhoItrulyaminside,listentomyhorn.”

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