In this episode of Shambhu Sessions, guitarist and composer Shambhu sits down with flugelhorn and trumpet artist Jeff Oster — a dear friend, longtime collaborator, and one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary jazz and New Age instrumental music.

Jeff Oster's journey is anything but conventional. Before launching his recording career, he spent years balancing life as a financial advisor while quietly shaping a deeply personal musical voice. Since then, his warm, melodic flugelhorn sound has become a defining presence across dozens of albums and collaborations.

In this wide-ranging and intimate conversation, Shambhu and Jeff reflect on how they first met in 2009, their shared musical path, and the creative relationships that followed — including collaborations with Will Ackerman, Tom Eaton, Nile Rodgers, Bernard Purdie, Chuck Rainey, Ruslan Sirota, Diane Arkenstone, and many others .

Jeff opens up about:

• Growing up with classical, jazz, pop, and prog-rock influences

• Discovering the flugelhorn and shaping his signature tone

• Recording albums like Released, True, Surrender, Next, Reach, Brothers, Howling Loon, Seven Conversations, and Divine Ratio of Love

• His collaborative work with Shambhu, including "On Mother's Day" and "Montauk to Mexico"

• Improvisation as a spiritual and emotional practice

• Using looping, delays, and sound design in live performance

• Why it's never too late to follow the sound that calls you

This episode is a deep dive into tone, breath, silence, improvisation, and creative reinvention — and a reminder that music can be both a refuge and a lifelong companion.

🎺 Learn more about Jeff Oster and his music: https://www.jeffoster.com

🎸 Explore Shambhu's music and podcast episodes: https://www.shambhumusic.com/podcast

If this conversation moved you, please like, subscribe, and share Shambhu Sessions wherever you listen to podcasts.

"On Mother's Day", composed by Jeffrey Oster (ASCAP) and Neil Vineberg (BMI), is used under license to Shambhu Sessions.