Frank Foster honored

[brownie]

From The Richmond Times-Dispatch:

A sweet note for a giant of jazz

[Enterprise Server]

I've always liked Frank Foster. I feel he is an underrated player.....

[Peter Friedman]

My favorite small group recording with Frank Foster is this one:

Elmo Hope Quartet and Quintet - Hope meets Foster - Prestige

Foster swings hard with no Coltrane influence on this 1955 session.

[John Tapscott]

Some of the best Foster I've heard is on Pepper Adams' "The Adams Effect" on Uptown. Overall, this session is a particular favorite of mine.

http://www.allmusic.com/album/adams-effect-r182757

[Justin V]

I personally enjoy Donald Byrd's Byrd's Word, with Foster, Hank Jones, Paul Chambers and Kenny Clarke, which has never been released in complete form on one cd. The easiest way to hear the complete session is to track down the Savoy cd reissue and download the stray track from a Savoy comp on iTunes.

Edited March 21, 2011 by Justin V

[gmonahan]

I've always appreciated and enjoyed Frank Foster's playing and arranging. Not sure I'd quite classify him as a "giant."

gregmo

[golfcrazy1984]

He may not be a giant (or an original) in the sense of an Ellington, Coltrane, Miles (etc.)--but of the living jazz musicians, he is right up there. I would consider his arranging skill to put him in the "giant" category. He arranged a heck of a lot of music for the Basie band, and look at his playing and arranging credits! Crazy long.

His playing was great, with influences of Lester, Stitt and later on-Coltrane. I don't think I can think of a player that owned Jumpin' at the Woodside quite like Foster (other than the original, Lester Young).

I'm not coming down on you, gregmo, in the least, but I needed to give props to Frank.

Props to Foss!

Edited March 21, 2011 by Jazz Nut

[gmonahan]

He may not be a giant (or an original) in the sense of an Ellington, Coltrane, Miles (etc.)--but of the living jazz musicians, he is right up there. I would consider his arranging skill to put him in the "giant" category. He arranged a heck of a lot of music for the Basie band, and look at his playing and arranging credits! Crazy long.

His playing was great, with influences of Lester, Stitt and later on-Coltrane. I don't think I can think of a player that owned Jumpin' at the Woodside quite like Foster (other than the original, Lester Young).

I'm not coming down on you, gregmo, in the least, but I needed to give props to Frank.

Props to Foss!

I have no problem at all giving props to Frank. Love his compositions, his arrangements, and his playing. He and Wess made a great team in the New Testament band.

gregmo

[JSngry]

I don't think I can think of a player that owned Jumpin' at the Woodside quite like Foster (other than the original, Lester Young).

[Larry Kart]

Jaws' relationship to the beat was so explosive and precise. It's like his horn had the world's greatest bongo and/or conga drummer hidden inside it.

[golfcrazy1984]

I don't think I can think of a player that owned Jumpin' at the Woodside quite like Foster (other than the original, Lester Young).

OK, OK---I was at work when I wrote that, and I was really thinking of Foster after reading the article. But of course, Lockjaw was in and out of the Basie band and, I'm sure, intimidated all the tenor players in the band.

Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis knew how to get around on those changes too. Jaws was GREAT! Lockjaw had the ultimate swagger. I never tire of hearing him.

Edited March 22, 2011 by Jazz Nut

[brownie]

A review of the event:

Musical tribute for Frank Foster

[ValerieB]

A review of the event:

Musical tribute for Frank Foster

thank you SO much, Brownie!! reading the article certainly brought some tears of joy to my eyes!

[clifford_thornton]

Nice!