Mike Osborne

Michael Evans Osborne (28 September 1941 – 19 September 2007) was an English jazz alto saxophonist, pianist and clarinetist, perhaps most noteworthy for his contributions as a member to the Chris McGregor band Brotherhood of Breath in the 1960s and 1970s.

He was born in Hereford and attended Wycliffe College in Gloucestershire and the Guildhall School of Music.

From 1962-1972, Osborne belonged to the Mike Westbrook band. During this period the artist also did other work with musicians such as Michael Gibbs, Mike Cooper, Stan Tracey, Kenny Wheeler, Humphrey Lyttelton, Alan Skidmore and John Surman.

During 1974-75 Osborne was part of the saxophone trio S.O.S. with John Surman and Alan Skidmore. They recorded an LP plus BBC radio and television sessions and toured extensively in much of Europe.

Illness prevented him working from 1982. He died of lung cancer on 19 September 2007.

Select discography

• Mike Osborne Quintet: Outback (Turtle Records)
• Mike Osborne Trio: Border Crossing (Ogun Records)
• Mike Osborne Trio: All Night Long (Live at Willisau) (Ogun Records)
• Mike Osborne & Stan Tracey: Original (Cadillac Records)
• Mike Osborne/Stan Tracey Duo (Cadillac Records)
• Tandem: Mike Osborne/Stan Tracey Live at the Bracknell Festival (Ogun Records)
• Mike Osborne Quintet: Marcel's Muse (Ogun Records)
• Shapes (Future Music Records)

With Brotherhood of Breath

• Bremen to Bridgwater (Cuneiform Records)

With John Surman

• John Surman (Deram Records)
• How Many Clouds Can You See? (Deram Records)

With Mike Westbrook

• The Mike Westbrook Concert Band: Marching Song Vols. 1 & 2 (Deram Records)
• The Mike Westbrook Concert Band: Release (Deram Records)

With Michael Gibbs

• Michael Gibbs (Deram Records)

With Mike Cooper

• Too Late Now (Dawn Records)
• Your Lovely Ways (Dawn Records)
• Life And Death In Paradise (Fresh Air Records)

With Alan Skidmore

• Alan Skidmore Quintet: T.C.B. (Philips Records)

With Kenny Wheeler

• Song For Someone (Incus Records)

With the London Jazz Composers Orchestra

• London Jazz Composers Orchestra: Ode (Intakt Records)

With Harry Miller's Isipingo

• Which Way Now: Live In Bremen 1975 (Cuneiform Records)
• Family Affair (Ogun Records)

With Norma Winstone

• Edge Of Time (Algo Records)

Select bibliography

• Ian Carr: Music Outside: Contemporary Jazz in Britain, 2nd edition (London: Northway Publications, 2007) ISBN 978-0-9550908-6-8

External links

• Obituary in The Times, 2 October 2007

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