On his 17th full-length album, Picasso’s Villa, Anders Osborne offers what he calls “a condensed story about living in America between 2018–2021,” shaped by fear, confusion, joy, grief, friendship, family, community, and a deepening practice of meditation. The album moves between personal reflection and broader cultural observation, from the historical sweep of “Bewildered” to the nostalgic New Orleans memories of “Dark Decatur Love.” The title track uses the metaphor of Picasso’s life to explore the contradictions of being a working musician, while “Le Grand Zombie” serves as a tribute to his late friend and New Orleans icon Dr. John.
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Recorded in New Orleans with an all-star band including Waddy Wachtel, Chad Cromwell, and Bob Glaub, the album balances the raw, Crazy Horse–style energy of Osborne’s live shows with the introspective singer-songwriter sensibility at the core of his work. Osborne describes his process as “rough and free form,” noting that this record captures both grit and polish. His longtime commitment to sobriety and meditation informs much of the album’s emotional depth and clarity.
Born in Sweden in 1966, Osborne moved to New Orleans at nineteen and has been a central figure in the city’s music scene for nearly four decades. Deeply influenced by blues, jazz, folk, and rock, he developed a signature sound using open D tuning, inspired by Joni Mitchell’s Blue. Since releasing his debut Doin’ Fine in 1989, he has written the bulk of his own material, with songs recorded by artists such as Keb’ Mo’, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, Aaron Neville, and Trombone Shorty.
Widely recognized in New Orleans, Osborne has been named Entertainer of the Year by Gambit Weekly and honored multiple times by OffBeat as Best Guitarist and Best Songwriter. He has performed at Jazz Fest for over 35 years, collaborated with the North Mississippi All Stars, toured with artists from Toots and the Maytals to Bonnie Raitt and Taj Mahal, appeared on HBO’s Treme, and taught at Tulane University. He is also actively involved in community and youth arts initiatives through organizations including Send Me A Friend, the New Orleans Children’s Museum, and the Trombone Shorty Foundation.
