No. 1 Syncopated Swing
No. 2 Boogie Shuffle
No. 3 Bassa Nova
No. 4 Chill- Out
No. 5 Jazz Waltz
No. 6 Jazz Rock
ABRSM Grade 3 List C: Bassa Nova
ABRSM Grade 4 List C: Jazz Rock.
Trinity College London Grade 3: Syncopated Swing
Trinity College London Grade 4: Chill Out.
MTB Grade 3, 4, 5
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.
The pieces in Junior Jazz Book 1 of are jazz solos rather than bass lines, to give an opportunity to those unfamiliar with, or inexperienced…
The pieces in Junior Jazz Book 1 of are jazz solos rather than bass lines, to give an opportunity to those unfamiliar with, or inexperienced in jazz to explore a world very different from the usual repertoire.
Some are more challenging than others, often in terms of style rather than technique, and the all-important word is ‘feel’.
They can be played pizzicato or arco, even a mixture of both, but they were written to be enjoyed by player and audience alike. It would also be possible to add a drum beat. Go for it!
