The Band

After moving to Baltimore, he co-founded CSJQ in 1995. In 2002 Osteen contributed his first composition to the group, “The Amen Corner.” Since then he has composed more than seventy tunes and added a dozen to CSJQ’s book. For eleven years Mark was president of the Baltimore Jazz Alliance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing jazz in Baltimore. In that capacity he produced BJA’s compilation CDs, Baltimore Jazzscapes, and Baltimore Jazzscapes II, and edited The Baltimore Real Book: Original Compositions by Baltimore Jazz Artists. He also played tenor saxophone in the BJA Big Band. Click here to find out more about the BJA. When he’s not performing with CSJQ, Mark teaches English at Loyola University, and works with the Loyola Jazz Ensemble and Combo. Osteen’s favorite non-jazz pursuits include reading, writing (he’s published twelve books) and movies.

Though Gary enjoys playing in big bands he has a special fondness for working in a small group. He has played with Andy Ennis, Bing Miller, Mickey Fields, Whit Williams, The Platters, and many more. He accompanied his wife, Loretta, on guitar and bass as part of Spats and Playmates. When he’s not playing his bass or guitar, he’s reading, restoring his big old house, or making his kitty cats purr.

Over the years he has also developed an interest in a wider range of percussion instruments, which he incorporates into his performances. Greg’s main interest is to develop the quality of his drum sounds in relation to voicing, texture, color, movement, feeling and groove. The most important thing is to play with the other musicians and to LISTEN. His future plans are to keep growing musically and harmoniously.