{{short description|American musician (born 1957)}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Jeff Oster | image = File:Jeff Oster.jpg | alt = Jeff Oster | caption = Jeff Oster | birth_name = Jeffrey Oster | birth_date = 1957 | birth_place = Danville, Illinois, US | genre = Jazz, New Age, Ambient, Funk | occupation = Musician, composer, producer, financial advisor | instrument = Trumpet, flugelhorn | years_active = 2003-present | label = Retso; Artist Garage | associated_acts = Flow, Will Ackerman, Blue Eternity, Departure | website = {{URL|http://jeffoster.com/}} }}
'''Jeff Oster''' is a Grammy-nominated<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|date=2021-11-23|title=2022 Grammy Awards: Complete Nominations List|url=https://www.grammy.com/news/2022-grammys-complete-winners-nominees-nominations-list|access-date=2021-11-26|website=grammy.com|language=en}}</ref> American musician who specializes in trumpet and flugelhorn in the New Age music genre. He is a member of the four-piece band Flow. Oster's style has been described as "Miles Davis meets Pink Floyd."<ref name=":3" /> He is a three-time winner of the Independent Music Awards<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7" /> and ten-time winner of the Zone Music Reporter Awards (formerly ''NAR LifeStyle Music Awards).''<ref name=":8" /><ref name=":9" /><ref name=":10" /><ref name=":11">{{Cite web|url=http://www.zonemusicreporter.com/admin/2017award_finalists.asp|title=2017 ZMR Music Award Winners|website=www.zonemusicreporter.com|access-date=2018-12-01}}</ref> He was featured on the Laura Sullivan's Grammy-winning album ''Love's River.''<ref name=":12">{{Cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/search/laura%20sullivan|title=Search Results for laura sullivan|website=grammy.com|language=en|access-date=2018-12-01}}</ref><ref name=":13">{{Cite web|url=http://www.newagemusicworld.com/pianist-laura-sullivan-loves-river/|title=Pianist Laura Sullivan – Love's River|website=www.newagemusicworld.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-01}}</ref> Flow's debut album reached number 4 on the ''Billboard'' New Age Albums Chart in 2017.
== Early life == Oster grew up in Highland Park, Illinois. After several moves, he attended Coral Gables Senior High School in Florida, and was a member of their marching band "Cavaliers Band of Distinction"<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pressreader.com/usa/sun-sentinel-palm-beach-edition/20110919/282029028958535|title=Connecting People Through News|via=PressReader|access-date=2018-11-23}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.ambientvisions.com/jeffoster.htm|title=Ambient Visions Presents an Interview with Jeff Oster|website=www.ambientvisions.com|access-date=2018-11-23}}</ref> The band's director William Ledue was influential in his formation as a trumpeter and got him his first job playing "Taps" at the funeral of a veteran.<ref name=":0" /> In 1978, at age 19, Oster discovered Chuck Mangione's album "Feels So Good" which led him to order a Yamaha Flugelhorn that he still plays today.<ref name=":0" /> Oster was inducted into the Coral Gables Hall of Fame in 2023.<ref>{{Citation |last=Rojas |first=Aaron |title=Remembering the '75 of Music Distinction, Jeff Oster Gets Inducted |url=https://bestofsno.com/64761/features/remembering-the-75-of-music-distinction-jeff-oster-gets-inducted/ |access-date=2023-10-28}}</ref>
After high school through 1987 Oster performed with a variety of acts including three piece power rock trio in Miami, Los Angeles and performed in big bands and as a horn player with R&B bands, and a casino lounge band that toured Vegas, Lake Tahoe, and Atlantic City.<ref name=":0" />
During this time, Oster wrote singer/songwriter music and unsuccessfully tried to get them covered by other artists. After struggling ten years living in Los Angeles he decided turned to writing original music. In 1987, at the recommendation of a friend, Oster passed his Series 7 exam, became a financial advisor,<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thinkadvisor.com/2008/01/01/leader-of-the-band/|title=Leader of the Band {{!}} ThinkAdvisor|work=ThinkAdvisor|access-date=2018-11-23}}</ref> and decided to save enough money to hire professionals to record his music.<ref name=":0" />
== New age transition ==
By 2003, Oster started writing instrumental horn music when he purchased a personal computer with music creation software on it. After uploading performances of that music to MP3.com, he found that four songs were downloaded at a rate of 40,000 per month and were on the website's Top Ten Downloads list.<ref name=":1" />
Oster connected with Will Ackerman, the founder of Windham Hill Records, an artist Oster had been listening to and playing along with since 1979. In late 2003, Oster and Ackerman recorded four of these tracks on his debut extended play (EP) album ''At Last.'' The title song from ''At Last'' won the Best New Age Song award at the 5th Annual Independent Music Awards in 2006.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":5">{{Cite news|url=http://independentmusicawards.com/artist/past-ima-programs/|title=Past IMA Programs – Independent Music Awards|work=Independent Music Awards|access-date=2018-11-26|language=en-US}}</ref>
Oster's first full-length album titled ''RELEASED'' in 2005 which received the 2005 Album of the Year and Best Contemporary Instrumental Album awards at the NAR Lifestyle Music Awards, voted on by broadcasters.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web|url=http://www.zonemusicreporter.com/admin/2005award_finalists.asp|title=NAR 2005 LifeStyle Music Award Winners|website=www.zonemusicreporter.com|access-date=2018-11-26}}</ref>
== Continuing musical career == In 2007, Oster teamed up again with Ackerman on ''TRUE''. The first track of the album, ''Saturn Calling'', won the 7th Annual Independent Music Awards' Best New Age Song in 2008.<ref name=":7">{{Cite news|url=http://www.gaiaprimeradio.com/review-of-the-album-next-by-jeff-oster/|title=Review of the Album "Next" by Jeff Oster|date=2015-07-24|work=GAIA Prime Internet Radio|access-date=2018-11-23|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=http://thecapstone.blogspot.com/2007/12/indepedent-music-awards-winners.html|title=The Capstone's Connections: Independent Music Awards winners|date=2007-12-18|website=The Capstone's Connections|access-date=2018-11-26}}</ref><ref name=":5" /> The album also won the Album of the Year and Best Contemporary Instrumental Album awards at the NAR Lifestyle Music Awards.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web|url=http://www.zonemusicreporter.com/admin/2007award_finalists.asp|title=NAR 2007 Lifestyle Music Award Winners|website=www.zonemusicreporter.com|access-date=2018-11-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://zonemusicreporter.com/recording/viewreviews.asp?rvwbrd=8&rvwbrdpstn=7&rvwbrdcmmt=497|title=New Age/Ambient/World Music Reviews|website=zonemusicreporter.com|access-date=2018-11-26|archive-date=2019-04-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419042022/http://zonemusicreporter.com/recording/viewreviews.asp?rvwbrd=8&rvwbrdpstn=7&rvwbrdcmmt=497|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Oster's ''SURRENDER'' album, released in 2011, received Zone Music Reporter's Album of the Year and Best Chill/Groove Album awards.<ref name=":10">{{Cite web|url=http://www.zonemusicreporter.com/admin/2011award_finalists.asp|title=2011 ZMR Music Award Winners|website=www.zonemusicreporter.com|access-date=2018-11-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newagemusicworld.com/jeff-osters-surrender-now-released/|title=Jeff Oster's Surrender now released|website=www.newagemusicworld.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-11-24}}</ref> The nationally syndicated NPR radio show Echoes' staff selected the album for their 25 Essential CDs for 2011.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://echoes.org/2011/12/06/25-essential-echoes-cds-for-2011/|title=25 Essential Echoes CDs for 2011|date=2011-12-06|work=Echoes|access-date=2018-11-23|language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2015, Oster released his album ''next.'' It received Zone Music Reporter's Album of the Year and Best Chill/Groove Album awards<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.zonemusicreporter.com/admin/2015award_finalists.asp|title=2015 ZMR Music Award Winners|website=www.zonemusicreporter.com|access-date=2018-11-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/vice-exclusive-can-we-all-please-calm-down-and-just-listen-to-some-new-age-jazz-for-once-420/|title=Vice Exclusive: Can We All Please Calm Down and Just Listen to Some New Age Jazz for Once?|date=2015-04-02|work=Vice|access-date=2018-11-24|language=en-us}}</ref>
In 2016, Oster also released ''Jeff Oster Live!'' from performances at The Fenix in San Rafael.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://michaeldiamondmusic.com/2016/09/09/jeff-oster-live-by-jeff-oster/|title=Jeff Oster Live! by Jeff Oster|date=2016-09-09|work=Music and Media Focus|access-date=2018-11-23|language=en-US|archive-date=2019-02-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214045525/https://michaeldiamondmusic.com/2016/09/09/jeff-oster-live-by-jeff-oster/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In 2018, Oster released ''Reach.''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jazzmonthly.com/jeff-oster-reach/|title=Jeff Foster – "Reach"|date=2018-09-18|website=www.jazzmonthly.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-11-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jwvibe.com/single-post/2018/10/06/JEFF-OSTER-Reach|title=Jeff Oster, Reach {{!}} Home |website=www.jonathanwidran.com|date=6 October 2018 |language=en|access-date=2018-11-23}}</ref>
In 2019, Oster's album ''REACH'' won the Best New Age Album Award and his song "Five Great Mountains" won the Best New Age Song Award at the Independent Music Awards.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://independentmusicawards.com/the-17th-independent-music-awards-winners/|title=The 17th Independent Music Awards Winners|website=independentmusicawards.com|access-date=2019-06-28 }}</ref> ''REACH'' received Zone Music Reporter's Album of the Year and Best Contemporary Instrumental Album.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.zonemusicreporter.com/admin/2018award_finalists.asp|title=2018 ZMR Music Award Winners|website=www.zonemusicreporter.com|access-date=2019-06-02}}</ref>
=== Collaborations ===
==== NASA ==== In 2007, Oster took the sound rendering of data collected by the Cassini spacecraft's radio and plasma wave science instruments as the basis for the song "Saturn Calling" which appeared as the first track on his album "TRUE." The song received the Best New Age Song award at 7th Annual Independent Music Awards in 2008.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/12608/all-that-cassini-jazz-musician-uses-saturns-true-voice-to-make-beautiful-music/|title=All That Cassini Jazz: Musician Uses Saturn's True Voice to Make Beautiful Music – Solar System Exploration: NASA Science|work=Solar System Exploration: NASA Science|access-date=2018-11-23}}</ref><ref name=":5" />
==== Blue Eternity ==== Oster also performs with Michael Manring (founder of the group Montreux) and Carl Weingarten (a founding member of the progressive rock group, Delay Tactics) in a group called Blue Eternity.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://echoes.org/2012/01/04/ostermanringweingarten-in-echoes-living-room/|title=Oster/Manring/Weingarten in Echoes Living Room|date=2012-01-04|work=Echoes|access-date=2018-11-23|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mwe3.com/reviews/CarlWeingarten2014/|title=CD/DVD Reviews|website=www.mwe3.com|access-date=2018-11-23}}</ref> They perform at venues such as the Fujitsu Planetarium at De Anza College in Cupertino, CA.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reverbnation.com/show/22232759|title=Show at Blue Eternity – Live at Fujitsu Planetarium|website=ReverbNation|language=en-us|access-date=2018-11-23}}</ref>
==== Laura Sullivan ==== In 2012, Oster was a featured artist on two tracks of Laura Sullivan's Grammy Award-winning album ''Love's River.''<ref name=":12" /><ref name=":13" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://michaeldiamondmusic.com/2013/01/04/loves-river-by-laura-sullivan/|title=Love's River by Laura Sullivan|date=2013-01-05|work=Music and Media Focus|access-date=2018-12-01|language=en-US|archive-date=2019-02-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221141546/https://michaeldiamondmusic.com/2013/01/04/loves-river-by-laura-sullivan/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==== Pete Seeger ==== In 2013, Oster and other artists wrote and performed music on Pete Seeger's spoken word album ''Pete Seeger: The Storm King; Stories, Narratives, Poems'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.peteseegerthestormking.com/site/disk-1/|title=Disk 1 {{!}} Pete Seeger: The Storm King|website=www.peteseegerthestormking.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-01}}</ref> which Seeger released at the age of 93.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20130412/NEWS01/304120035/VIDEO-Seeger-legacy-grows-release-new-album-Storm-King- |title=Video: Seeger legacy grows with release of new album 'Storm King' |last=Barry |first=John W. |date=April 12, 2013 |website=Poughkeepsie Journal |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130412105958/http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20130412/NEWS01/304120035/VIDEO-Seeger-legacy-grows-release-new-album-Storm-King- |archive-date=April 12, 2013 |url-status=dead |access-date=2019-04-24}}</ref> The album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/pete-seeger/6333|title=Pete Seeger|date=2018-05-22|work=grammy.com|access-date=2018-12-01|language=en}}</ref>
==== Flow ==== In 2015, guitarist Lawrence Blatt, pianist Fiona Joy Hawkins, producer/guitarist William Ackerman, and Oster formed the group Flow. They recorded the self-titled album ''Flow'', released in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/flow-flow-self-produced-review-by-jakob-baekgaard.php |title=Flow: Flow |last=Baekgaard |first=Jakob |date=November 20, 2017 |website=All About Jazz |language=en |access-date=2019-04-24}}</ref>
The album was #4 in Billboard's New Age Album chart on October 28.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/new-age-albums/2017-10-28|title=New Age Music: Top New Age Albums Chart|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2018-12-01}}</ref> The album received the ‘New Age Album of the Year’ at the 16th Annual Independent Music Awards.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://independentmusicawards.com/blog/2018/04/02/16th-independent-music-awards-winners/|title=The 16th Independent Music Awards Winners Announced|date=2018-04-02|website=Independent Music Awards|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-19}}</ref> It held the #1 position on the ZoneMusicReporter's (ZMR) Top 100 Radio Airplay Chart for two months, was nominated for and won two ZMR awards, ’Album of the Year’ and ‘Best Contemporary Instrumental Album’, at 14th Annual ZMR Awards.<ref name=":11" />
In 2019 Flow released the album ''Promise.''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ambientvisions.com/08182019.htm|title=Ambient Visions Music Reviews|website=ambientvisions.com|access-date=2019-09-07}}</ref>
==== Deepak Chopra ==== In 2017, Deepak Chopra, a prominent figure in the New Age movement, together with Kabir Sehgal and Paul Avgerinos published a book titled "Home: Where Everyone is Welcome," featuring 34 poems and accompanied by a CD of twelve songs inspired by immigrants cultural contribution to the United States.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://the-guitar.com/at-home-with-deepak-chopra-and-friends/|title={{!}} At Home with Deepak Chopra and FriendsThe Guitar|website=The Guitar|language=en-US|access-date=2018-11-23}}</ref> Along with Chopra, Sehgal, and Avgerinos, Oster and Ackerman co-produced the CD with Oster performing on three tracks.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://newagemusic.guide/upcoming-albums/home-everyone-welcome/|title=Home – Where Everyone Is Welcome – New Age Music Guide|date=2017-07-31|work=New Age Music Guide|access-date=2018-11-23|language=en-GB}}</ref>
==== Departure ==== In 2018, Oster began performing with FLOW's co-producer Tom Eaton and guitarist Vin Downes in a group they named Departure<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ambientvisions.com/vindownes.htm|title=Ambient Visions Presents an Interview with Vin Downes|website=www.ambientvisions.com|access-date=2018-11-23}}</ref> and appeared on an Echoes streaming "living room concert." One of the songs performed in the streaming concert appears on Echoes album, Victoria Place: Echoes Live 23.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://echoes.org/2018/08/07/departure-concert-streaming-on-echoes/|title=Departure Concert Streaming on Echoes|date=2018-08-07|work=Echoes|access-date=2018-11-23|language=en-US}}</ref> Departure has also performed at the 1867 Sanctuary Arts & Culture Center in Ewing, NJ.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://1867sanctuary.org/vin-downes-tom-eaton-jeff-ostersaturday-october-7-800-pm/|title=Vin Downes, Tom Eaton & Jeff OsterSaturday, October 7 — 8:00 PM {{!}} 1867 Sanctuary Featured Events|website=1867sanctuary.org|language=en-US|access-date=2018-11-23|archive-date=2019-04-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418211540/http://1867sanctuary.org/vin-downes-tom-eaton-jeff-ostersaturday-october-7-800-pm/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
'''Brothers'''
In July, 2021, Oster, William Ackerman and Tom Eaton began to record the album ''Brothers.'' Originally, ''Brothers'' was conceived by Oster as a collaboration with Ackerman, but based on Eaton's contributions, Eaton was made a "brother" and given equal billing. Recording took place at Eaton's studio in Newburyport, MA and Ackerman's Imaginary Road Studios in Vermont. Eaton performed on piano, keyboard, bass, percussion, and electric guitar, Ackerman performed on acoustic guitar, and Oster performed on flugelhorn and trumpet.<ref>{{Cite web|first=Victoria |last=Chertok|title='Brothers' — in life and in music: Jeff Oster, Tom Eaton, Will Ackerman release new album|url=https://www.reformer.com/arts_and_culture/brothers-in-life-and-in-music-jeff-oster-tom-eaton-will-ackerman-release-new-album/article_a5eb765a-efd9-11eb-8e13-77c445f4065c.html|access-date=2021-12-02|website=Brattleboro Reformer|date=28 July 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":14" /> The album was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best New Age Album.<ref name=":4" />
In 2023 Oster released a lo-fi album, ''hØwling lØØn,'' which has been submitted for nomination to the 66th Grammy Awards.<ref>{{Citation |last=Rojas |first=Aaron |title=Remembering the '75 of Music Distinction, Jeff Oster Gets Inducted |url=https://bestofsno.com/64761/features/remembering-the-75-of-music-distinction-jeff-oster-gets-inducted/ |access-date=2023-10-28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-05 |title=Echoes Podcast: Jeff Oster & Al Petteway R.I.P. |url=https://echoes.org/2023/10/05/echoes-podcast-jeff-oster/ |access-date=2023-10-28 |website=Echoes |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Influences and style == Oster has said "As I've grown, I've been inspired by Bill Chase, and Herb Alpert, and Miles Davis and Chris Botti, along with Steely Dan, Pink Floyd, Will Ackerman, Yes, U2, and today by artists such as Kendrick Lamar."<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/take-five-with-jeff-oster-jeff-oster-by-jeff-oster.php|title=Take Five with Jeff Oster|website=All About Jazz|date=12 June 2015 |language=en|access-date=2018-11-24}}</ref>
Oster's style has been often described as "Miles Davis meets Pink Floyd"<ref name=":3" /> or "Miles Davis meets Enya."<ref name=":14">{{Cite web|last=Widran|first=Jonathan|date=2021-07-05|title=Will Ackerman, Jeff Oster, Tom Eaton, Brothers|url=https://www.jwvibe.com/single-post/will-ackerman-jeff-oster-tom-eaton-brothers|access-date=2021-07-18|website=Music Reviews - JWV|language=en}}</ref>
== Financial services career == Oster has been working in financial services. From 1988 to 1994 he worked with Independent Advantage Financial where he became a senior vice president and national sales manager.<ref name="raymond james" /> From 1994 to 1997, he worked with Prudential Securities as a senior vice president in investments, and since then has served as a Registered Principal and Branch Manager of Raymond James Financial.<ref name="raymond james" />
== Discography == * ''At Last'' (EP, 2004) * ''Released'' (2005) * ''True'' (2007) * ''Surrender'' (2011) * ''Next'' (2015) * ''Jeff Oster Live!'' (2016) * ''Reach'' (2018) *''Brothers'' (2021) *''hØwling lØØn'' (2023)
== References == <references>
<ref name="raymond james">{{Cite web|url=https://www.raymondjames.com/jeffreyoster/about-us/bio?_=Jeffrey.Oster|title=About Us {{!}} Bio – Jeffrey Oster|work=Raymond James Financial|access-date=2018-11-23|archive-date=2019-04-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418211542/https://www.raymondjames.com/jeffreyoster/about-us/bio?_=jeffrey.oster|url-status=dead}}</ref>
</references>
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Oster, Jeff}} Category:1957 births Category:21st-century American male musicians Category:21st-century American trumpeters Category:American jazz flugelhornists Category:American jazz musicians Category:American jazz trumpeters Category:American male trumpeters Category:Living people Category:American male jazz composers Category:Smooth jazz musicians Category:People from Danville, Illinois Category:People from Coral Gables, Florida Category:20th-century American jazz composers Category:20th-century American male composers