The OSSO Quartet is an Oberlin-based jazz group formed to uphold the jazz traditions of innovation and exploration. The group, inspired by such greats as Thelonious Monk, Ornette Coleman, and McCoy Tyner, has spent time experimenting with alternative timbres and utilizing various extended techniques. Additionally, the group channels the complex emotions of today's youth. Saxophonist Lorenzo Jose, originally from Brooklyn, NY, is studying under NEA Jazz Master Gary Bartz. He takes inspiration from the greats of the alto such as Charlie Parker, Cannonball Adderley, and Ornette Colman. He blends flowing melodies with angular lines to create his gripping solos. Upright bassist Lewis Williams hails from snowy Minneapolis, MN. He has extensive interest in the realm of free improvisation, and also plays electronic music on the side. North Carolinian drummer Cypress Proctor is a powerhouse of rhythmic beauty. He currently studies with the legendary Billy Hart. Clio Grant is a Saint Louis-based pianist, inspired by the sensitivity of Bill Evans, the ferocity of McCoy Tyner and the blues tradition of her hometown. The group has performed extensively in Oberlin and makes their Cleveland debut at the Treelawn.