Description

Green Bass Blues remains in bass clef throughout and is aimed at the progressing beginner bass quartet. Composed in 1980, it combines elements of swing, blues …and rock’n’roll, in a lively and rhythmic idiom that appeals to players of all ages. It has been performed at bass workshops and concerts throughout the world, and can be played by quartet or massed basses. An effective use of the 12-bar blues, with a swinging triplet accompaniment, demonstrate the composer at his jazzy best. Tony Osborne was a past master at writing exciting and jazzy music for younger bassists. Born in 1947 into a musical family, Tony Osborne studied at the Royal Academy of Music (London) with John Walton (double bass) and Richard Stoker (composition), and divided a busy career between composing, teaching, and performing. A prolific composer and arranger, Tony’s original compositions include works in almost every genre, notably Chaconne Syncopations and Wainwright’s Ways for brass quintet, Celebration Fanfare for brass ensemble, the musical A Fine Time for Wine, a beautiful and dramatic Requiem, and many works for string orchestra.
Tony’s music for young bassists is very much at the heart of the teaching, Repertoire, particularly his jazzy and enjoyable bass trios and quartets, and he had the rare ability to create wonderful music which is always player and audience-friendly.
In 2001 Tony Osborne was elected an ARAM (Associate of the Royal Academy of Music) for his pioneering and important work for double bass and was a featured composer at Bass-Fest for over ten years. He was a very successful BIBF Composer-in-residence in 2002-3, was a judge for the British Composer Awards and a judge for the BIBF Composition Competition from 1999 until 2015.
Tony Osborne died on 30 March 2019 at the age of 71.