Frank Foster

American tenor and soprano saxophonist, flautist, arranger, bandleader and composer, born 23 September 1928 in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, died 26 July 2011 in Chesapeake, Virginia, USA. He studied at Wilberforce University, where he was also the best soloist and principal arranger of the school orchestra. He made his debut in Detroit with Snooky Young, then played at the Bluebird Inn with Wardell Gray and Milton Jackson, with Kenny Burrell, Tommy Flanagan, Barry Harris, and others. During his military service, in which he was awarded a silver medal, he went AWOL to San Francisco to play with Dexter Gordon. After his discharge, he played with the big band led by Billy Eckstine, then in Detroit in Elvin Jones' band, and also with Thelonious Monk. In July 1953, he joined Count Basie, with whom he remained until 1964, contributing greatly to his success as a composer and arranger. He then joined Woody Herman, worked as a freelancer, and also devoted himself to teaching. He played with Lionel Hampton in 1967, founded a big band with Duke Pearson, then with Illinois Jacquet in 1968, with Ted Jones/Mel Lewis. He conducted several of his own groups, such as “The Loud Majority,” with whom he toured Europe and Japan. He played with Billy Meyers in 1980 and with John Siegel in 1982. Since 1983, he has led a quintet with Frank Wess, with Quincy Jones' orchestra in 1984, and in 1986 he replaced Thad Jones as conductor of the Basie student orchestra and leader of the Jarzmobile Orchestra. A saxophonist of the transition period, with a tight sound, he was closely linked to the boppers, particularly Sonny Stitt.