Osby's Sharp Edges in Motion
Greg Osby leans into his angular alto and a tight rhythm section, making Art Forum a compact, forward-leaning statement.
Art Forum opens with the kind of crisp, hard-driving momentum that defines much of Greg Osby's mid-1990s work: a tight rhythm section, a brisk tempo, and Osby's alto sitting right on top of the groove with a dry, slightly sharp tone. The texture is lean rather than lush. There is space between the notes, and the band moves with a muscular precision that rewards close listening more than casual background play.
The trio-and-horn core here features Osby alongside bassist Lonnie Plaxico and drummer Jeffrey "Tain" Watts, and Watts in particular pushes the tunes forward with busy, responsive kit work. Osby's phrasing is angular and playful, with abrupt turns and rhythmic displacement that keep the ear alert. The pieces are not built for long meditative stretches; they move, snap, and get to the point.
Within Osby's catalog, this is a solid, characteristic record rather than a summit. It captures the sound he was pursuing in the period: modern, rhythmically restless, and unafraid of edges. Listeners new to Osby might find it a good entry point to his style, though his stronger or more distinctive albums are the better place to start if you want the full picture of what he does.
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