this recording could just as easily have been entitled channeling three or the three channels. greg osby sounds like a solo improsiver. but it doesn't stop there, both matthew brewer and jeff watts play like solo improvisers. the three musicians sound like they played on different channels, keeping with the tv medium metaphor, and the three separate channels were overlaid. not that the drums and the bass are loud, no instrument seems dominant over the others at any particular moment, allowing a single instrument to solo alone, none of the three ever stop soloing.

watts' playing is extraordinary, his drumming, hummable and very simple at times, is melodic and drummers don't play, aren't supposed to be able to play melody. i want to ask someone how he does that, the way a lot of listeners to jazz ask how monk played the way he played. or how osby even conceived such an idea and gathered songs for his idea. then i realize that the idea(s) here are built on the work of ornette coleman. the first track, mob job, written by coleman. except for the track, miss ann by eric dolphy, all the other songs are written by greg osby.

this recording approaches something like high art. actually, it is high art. just an extraordinary accomplishment.

I'll admit that I didn't know who Greg Osby was until I saw his latest album Channel Three in the store. I was interested because I listen to jazz from time to time, and when I discovered that this album was on Blue Note Records, I was even more intrigued because they're known for putting out good stuff. I listened to the album and found that my notions were right.

Greg is a brilliant saxophonist, which is obvious by listening to any one of the tracks on here. "Vertical Hold", "Test Pattern" and "Please Stand By" are wonderful examples of this, as is the aptly titled "Fine Tuning". In fact, every song is noteworthy. If you've worn out your Norman Brown albums and you need something new, then pop this in and as another reviewer instructed, don't change the channel.

Anthony Rupert

Osby is the most brave, daring and challenging artist on the international scene today - HANDS DOWN! This collection of original trio pieces will stand up to any as simply one of the best. It's apparent that there's a high level of respect and communication at play here, and it's needed because this music is not simple or easy by any means. It has all of the usual jazz elements intact but also taps into serialism, 20th century composition, folk rhythms and advanced metric modulation. And as a saxophonist myself, I would like to comment on Osby's tone and flawless articulation. AMAZING!

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You can probably contact Osby directly via email to confirm this and he will surely respond. I've emailed him and spoken to him on several occasions at his concerts and he's a great guy! As you can probably tell, I'm a huge Osby fan.

this album is a must have. i wasnt really familiar with greg osby before this album, i only got it becuase he plays mob job and miss ann. i knew something had to be good if he was coming out with those tunes! his tunes are just as good though. "test pattern" is one of the best tunes ive ever heard. all of his tunes are great, and the adding of their voices on the title track is very original. matt brewer is one of the top bassists in the jazz scene right now. tain, we all know how sick he is! please go and buy this album, you will listen to it many times and still be wanting to listen to it again and again!

The trio setting has, in the history of jazz, frequently been the setting of unprecedented group interaction and experimentation. The Sonny Rollins Vanguard sessions would seem to be a predecessor of this landmark record by Greg Osby's group. Even elements of the memorable Giuffre/Swallow/Bley group sneak onto Channel Three giving the session a unique and groundbreaking flavor. Like the Motian/Frisell/Lovano group that enjoys such popularity today, the trio of Osby, Brewer and Watts is without a doubt covering new ground. It won't take the listener much time once turning on this record to realize that these three are very (underline VERY) serious about what they do.

Specifically, Matt Brewer is making some of the most important innovations on the basses (both acoustic and electric) since Scott Lafaro and Cecil Mcbee. Anyone interested in the instrument and its role in jazz should watch for this young player. Personally, I hope to hear much more from him in coming years.