Herman Foster
Encyclopedia
Herman Foster was an American bebop
jazz
pianist.
He began his musical career early playing the violin, clarinet, saxophone, and piano. He became a self-taught pianist. His family moved to New York City in 1947 where he began to attend jam sessions and then played with Eric Dixon
, Dick Carter and the big band of Herb Jones. Then he met Lou Donaldson
and they played together from 1953 to 1966. He also worked with King Curtis
, Bill English
, and Seldon Powell
in the 1950s, and with Al Casey
in the 1960s, in addition to playing with his own trio. He returned to work in Donaldson's quartet in the 1980s.
Bebop
Bebop differed drastically from the straightforward compositions of the swing era, and was instead characterized by fast tempos, asymmetrical phrasing, intricate melodies, and rhythm sections that expanded on their role as tempo-keepers...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
pianist.
He began his musical career early playing the violin, clarinet, saxophone, and piano. He became a self-taught pianist. His family moved to New York City in 1947 where he began to attend jam sessions and then played with Eric Dixon
Eric Dixon
Eric Dixon was an American jazz tenor saxophonist, flautist, and arranger.Dixon's professional career extended from 1950 until his death in 1989, during which time he was credited on perhaps as many as 200 recordings...
, Dick Carter and the big band of Herb Jones. Then he met Lou Donaldson
Lou Donaldson
Lou Donaldson is a jazz alto saxophonist. He was born in Badin, North Carolina. He is best known for his soulful, bluesy approach to playing the alto saxophone, although in his formative years he was, as many were of the bebop era, heavily influenced by Charlie Parker.His first recordings were...
and they played together from 1953 to 1966. He also worked with King Curtis
King Curtis
Curtis Ousley , who performed under the stage name King Curtis, was an American saxophone virtuoso known for rhythm and blues, rock and roll, soul, funk and soul jazz. Variously a bandleader, band member, and session musician, he was also a musical director and record producer...
, Bill English
Bill English
Simon William "Bill" English is the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Minister of Infrastructure of New Zealand.English entered parliament in 1990 as a National party MP representing the Wallace electorate...
, and Seldon Powell
Seldon Powell
Seldon Powell was an American soul jazz, swing and R&B tenor saxophonist and flautist born in Lawrenceville, Virginia, probably best remembered for his early work with musicians like Tab Smith , Lucky Millinder 1949-51), Neal Hefti or Louis Bellson...
in the 1950s, and with Al Casey
Al Casey
Albert Aloysius Casey known professional as Al Casey, was an African American swing guitarist who played with Fats Waller on some of his famous recordings. Casey composed the well known tune Buck Jumpin which was recorded by Waller.Casey was born in Louisville, Kentucky to Joseph and Maggie B....
in the 1960s, in addition to playing with his own trio. He returned to work in Donaldson's quartet in the 1980s.
Leader Discography
- Have You Heard (Epic RecordsEpic RecordsEpic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
, 1960) - The Explosive Piano of Herman Foster (Epic, 1961)
- Ready and Willing (Argo RecordsArgo RecordsArgo Records was started in December of 1955 to accommodate some of the rapidly growing recording activity at Chess Records. Originally the label was called Marterry, but bandleader Ralph Marterie objected, and within a couple of months the imprint was renamed Argo.Initially, Argo offered a...
, 1963) - The One And Only (Timeless RecordsTimeless RecordsTimeless Records is a jazz record label from The Netherlands.Timeless was founded in Wageningen in 1975 by Wim Wigt. It has specialized in bebop, though it also did a subseries of important releases of Dixieland and swing recordings. As of ca...
, 1984)
Sideman Discography
- 1957: Lou DonaldsonLou DonaldsonLou Donaldson is a jazz alto saxophonist. He was born in Badin, North Carolina. He is best known for his soulful, bluesy approach to playing the alto saxophone, although in his formative years he was, as many were of the bebop era, heavily influenced by Charlie Parker.His first recordings were...
: Wailing with LouWailing with LouWailing with Lou is an album by jazz saxophonist Lou Donaldson released on the Blue Note label in 1957 featuring performances by Donaldson's Quintet with Donald Byrd, Herman Foster, Peck Morrison and Art Taylor....
(Blue NoteBlue noteIn jazz and blues, a blue note is a note sung or played at a slightly lower pitch than that of the major scale for expressive purposes. Typically the alteration is a semitone or less, but this varies among performers and genres. Country blues, in particular, features wide variations from the...
) - 1957: Lou Donaldson: Swing and SoulSwing and SoulSwing and Soul is an album by jazz saxophonist Lou Donaldson recorded for the Blue Note label and performed by Donaldson's Quintet with Herman Foster, Peck Morrison, Dave Bailey, and Ray Barretto...
(Blue Note) - 1958: Lou Donaldson: Blues WalkBlues WalkBlues Walk is an album by jazz saxophonist Lou Donaldson.It has been considered Donaldson's "undisputed masterpiece".- Track listing :# "Blues Walk" 6:44# "Move" 5:54# "The Masquerade Is Over" 5:54...
(Blue Note) - 1958: Lou Donaldson: Light-FootLight-FootLight-Foot is an album by jazz saxophonist Lou Donaldson recorded for the Blue Note label and performed by Donaldson's Quintet with Herman Foster, Peck Morrison, Jimmy Wormsworth, and Ray Barretto...
(Blue Note) - 1959: King CurtisKing CurtisCurtis Ousley , who performed under the stage name King Curtis, was an American saxophone virtuoso known for rhythm and blues, rock and roll, soul, funk and soul jazz. Variously a bandleader, band member, and session musician, he was also a musical director and record producer...
: Have tenor sax will blow (AtcoAtco-In Canada:*ATCO, an engineering company**ATCO Electric, a subsidiary of the above company-In the United States:*Atco, Georgia, a community in Bartow County*Atco, New Jersey, a community in Camden County...
) - 1960: Al CaseyAl CaseyAlbert Aloysius Casey known professional as Al Casey, was an African American swing guitarist who played with Fats Waller on some of his famous recordings. Casey composed the well known tune Buck Jumpin which was recorded by Waller.Casey was born in Louisville, Kentucky to Joseph and Maggie B....
: Buck Jumpin' (Swingville) - 1961: Lou Donaldson: Gravy TrainGravy Train (album)Gravy Train is an album by jazz saxophonist Lou Donaldson recorded for the Blue Note label in 1961 and performed by Donaldson with Herman Foster, Ben Tucker, Dave Bailey, and Alec Dorsey....
(Blue Note) - 1962: Gloria LynneGloria LynneGloria Lynne is an American jazz vocalist with a recording career spanning from 1958 to 2007. Born Gloria Alleyne, Gloria Lynne grew up in Harlem; her mother was a gospel singer.-Career:...
: At The Las Vegas Thunderbird (Everest) - 1964: Joan Shaw In Person (SueSue RecordsSue Records was founded in 1957 by Henry 'Juggy' Murray in New York City.Also within the group was Symbol Records and Sue also financed and distributed A.F.O.Records owned by Harold Battiste in New Orleans....
) - 1964: Lou Donaldson: Cole SlawCole SlawCole Slaw is an album by jazz saxophonist Lou Donaldson recorded for the Argo label in 1964 and performed by Donaldson with Herman Foster, Earl May, Bruno Carr, and Ray Barretto.The album was awarded 3 stars in an Allmusic review....
(Argo) - 1964: Jean DuShon: Make way for Jean DuShon (Argo)
- 1966: Lou Donaldson: Blowing in the WindBlowing in the Wind (album)Blowing in the Wind is an album by jazz saxophonist Lou Donaldson recorded for the Cadet label in 1966 and performed by Donaldson with Herman Foster, Sam Jones, Leo Morris and Richard Landrum....
(CadetCadet RecordsCadet Records was started as Argo Records in 1955 as the jazz subsidiary of Chess Records. Argo changed its name in 1965 to Cadet to avoid confusion with the similarly named label in the UK...
) - 1972: Johnny HartmanJohnny HartmanJohn Maurice Hartman was an American bass jazz singer who specialized in ballads and earned critical acclaim, though he was never widely known. He recorded a well-known collaboration with the saxophonist John Coltrane in 1963 called John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman, and was briefly a member of...
: Today (Perception) - 1981: Lou Donaldson: Sweet Poppa LouSweet Poppa LouSweet Popp Lou is an album by jazz saxophonist Lou Donaldson, his first recording for the Muse label, featuring Donaldson's quartet with Herman Foster, Calvin Hill, Idris Muhammad, and additional percussion on three tracks by Ralph Dorsey....
(MuseMuse RecordsMuse Records was an American record label which released jazz and blues music.Muse was founded in the early 1970s by Joe Fields, who had previously worked as an executive for Prestige Records in the 1960s...
) - 1981: Lou Donaldson: Forgotten ManForgotten Man (album)Forgotten Man is an album by jazz saxophonist Lou Donaldson, his first recording for the Timeless label, featuring Donaldson's quartet with Herman Foster, Geoff Fuller, and Victor Jones....
(Timeless) - 1982: Lou Donaldson: Back StreetBack Street (album)Back Street is an album by jazz saxophonist Lou Donaldson, his second recording for the Muse label, featuring Donaldson's quartet with Herman Foster, Geoff Fuller, and Victor Jones.The album was awarded 3 stars in an Allmusic review....
(Muse) - 1984: Lou Donaldson: Live in BolognaLive in Bologna (Lou Donaldson album)Live in Bologna is a live album by jazz saxophonist Lou Donaldson, his second recording for the Timeless label, featuring Donaldson's quartet with Herman Foster, Geoff Fuller, and Victor Jones....
(Timeless) - 1995: Hisayo Tominaga: Blues blue (Black Box)
- 2000: George V. Johnson, Jr.: Next in line ! (Your Majesty)