Mike Osborne

Mike Osborne ( born September 28, 1941 in Hereford, † September 19, 2007 ) was a British jazz musician (alto saxophone, clarinet and composition).

Osborne played the violin and studied the early 1960s at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama clarinet. Between 1962 and 1972 he worked regularly with Mike Westbrook. His own long-standing trio with Harry Miller and Louis Moholo formed one of the cores of Chris McGregor's Brotherhood of Breath, in which he was active until the late 1970s. He also worked with Alan Skidmore and John Surman on sax trio SOS The mid-1970s, he continued performing with Stan Tracey, in duo and in larger ensembles. He also worked with Michael Gibbs, Kenny Wheeler, Humphrey Lyttelton, John Warren, Harry Beckett, Norma Winstone and Keith Tippett. Among his recordings Marcel's Muse ( 1977) is noteworthy.

Between 1969 and 1973 the Melody Maker Osborne recorded annually as the best alto saxophonists in Britain. Health problems forced him to retire in 1982 from the jazz scene. He died of lung cancer.

Discography (selection)

• Mike Osborne shapes ( with Alan Skidmore, John Surman, Earl Freeman, Harry Miller, Louis Moholo, Future Music Records)
• Mike Osborne Trio: Border Crossing ( Ogun Records)
• Mike Osborne & Stan Tracey: Original ( Cadillac Records)
• Mike Osborne / Stan Tracey Duo ( Cadillac Records)
• Mike Osborne Quintet: Marcel's Muse ( Ogun Records)