April 16, 2008 > Jazz Festival Jazz Festival By Mona Shah In a presentation of their 23rd annual Jazz festival, California State University, East Bay brings Greg Osby on saxophone to perform with the school's Jazz Ensemble and Faculty Group. The goal of this festival is to bring jazz students together in a non-competitive environment, performing for top adjudicators. Saxophonist, composer, producer and educator, Greg Osby has made an indelible mark on contemporary jazz as a leader of his own ensembles and guest artist with other acclaimed jazz groups for the past 24 years. Born and raised in St. Louis, Osby began his musical career on 1975. Relocating to New York in early 1983, he quickly established himself as a notable and in demand sideman for artists as varied as Herbie Hancock, Dizzy Gillespie, Jack DeJohnette, Andrew Hill, Muhal Richard Abrams, Jim Hall and Jaki Byard as well as many ethnic and new music ensembles in the New York area. Osby signed with Blue Note Records in 1990 and has since recorded fifteen outstanding recordings for that label as a leader. From the pulse of the streets and the language of a generation, he has sketched numerous musical essays set to a contemporary score using the improvisational nature of Jazz as the connecting thread. For more information, please go online to http://class.csueastbay.edu/Music/Annual_Jazz_Festival.php CSUEB Jazz Festival Friday, April 18 8 p.m. University Theatre 25800 Carlos Bee Blvd., Hayward (510) 885-3167 $15 general; $12 senior/youth; $10 CSUEB students