Pops Foster

[Hardbopjazz]

Listening to a Sidney Bechet record and saw his name. I have no knowledge of him outside this recording. Anyone know more about him?

[Christiern]

Born: May 18, 1892 in McCall, LA

Died: Oct 30, 1969 in San Francisco, CA

Genres: Jazz

Styles: New Orleans Jazz, Classic Jazz

One of the first important bassists (along with Steve Brown, Bill Johnson, and Wellman Braud), Pops Foster had the longest career and he kept the tradition of slap bass solos alive into the late '60s. Foster was playing in bands around New Orleans as early as 1906. He played tuba with Fate Marable's group on riverboats (1918-1921) and was with Kid Ory's band in California. Foster was in St. Louis in the mid-'20s, working with Charlie Creath and Dewey Jackson. After he arrived in New York in 1928, Foster played with King Oliver and then joined the great Luis Russell Orchestra, where his thumping bass really propelled the ensembles. Foster stayed with Russell during the long period (1935-1940) when the orchestra was really the backup group for Louis Armstrong. After that stint ended, Foster was in demand during the New Orleans revival period, freelancing with many bands, including Art Hodes, Mezz Mezzrow, Sidney Bechet (1945), and Bob Wilber. He toured Europe with Sammy Price during 1955-1956, played with Earl Hines in San Francisco (1956-1961), and then spent 1963-1964 with Elmer Snowden's trio. He also wrote his autobiography, which was published posthumously in 1971.

• I recorded Pops with various group in 1961, when he was a member of Earl Hines' band (which I also recorded). Here's photo I took of him and Little Brother Montgomery back then:
  

[Harold_Z]

Chris really said it all concerning Pops, and the recordings Chris produced in the CHICAGO LIVING LEGENDS series are top notch. One thing to add - Pops wrote an autobiography and I recently found a copy on ebay on the cheap. It was highly enjoyable reading.

Check out Pops on Louis Armstrong's Decca recordings from the 30s. Very strong.

High action + gut strings = a great sound for that stuff.

[Christiern]

Good recommendation, Harold.

[Brownian Motion]

  Harold_Z said:

Check out Pops on Louis Armstrong's Decca recordings from the 30s. Very strong.

High action + gut strings = a great sound for that stuff.

Pops was usually well-recorded, even back in the 1920s when he was playing with Luis Russell. A prime example of how hard Pops could drive a band can be heard on Louis Armstrong's 1936 recording of Mahogany Hall Stomp. Pops' swing and booming bass tones send the band soaring. Great performance.