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One of the UK's foremost exponents of the baritone saxphone; woodwind player and composer. |
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Mick Foster is a saxophonist, woodwind player and composer who is known as one of the UK’s foremost exponents of the baritone saxophone. He studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London and has since worked extensively in the fields of jazz, commercial and classical music. He has played with many ensembles such as the big bands of John Dankworth, Stan Sulzmann and Mike Garrick, Ginger Baker’s Air Force, Swing Out Sister, The Syd Lawrence Orchestra, The London Philharmonic Orchestra, English National Opera and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.
Mick has recently been recording and touring with Alan Barnes + 11 and Jim Rattigan’s ensemble Pavillon, and is currently a member of The Humphrey Lyttelton Band, the Back to Basie Orchestra and the London Jazz Orchestra. Other notable jazz musicians that Mick has worked with include Dame Cleo Laine, Jacqui Dankworth, Trudy Kerr, Mark Lockheart, Guy Barker, Laura Jurd and Digby Fairweather. Mick has recorded three albums under his own name and is in demand as a session musician, having played for many film and TV soundtracks including Predator and Downton Abbey.
As a composer Mick has written for various ensembles which include the London Jazz Orchestra, Quartz Saxophone Quartet, Docklands Sinfonia and Onyx Brass as well as his own jazz groups. His music has been broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and he has pieces published by Saxtet Publications; some are included on both the ABRSM and Trinity College exams syllabuses.
Mick is active as an educator; he currently teaches at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and Goldsmiths College; he is also a tutor for the National Youth Jazz Collective.
Foster himself is a bright, imaginative soloist who exploits his instrument’s grainy, fruity charms perfectly, and his choice of material is impeccable. If you like your jazz warm, tasteful and elegant, without grandstanding […] this is for you.”
Foster’s sound is warmer than some, occasionally Mulliganesque, his solos marked by fluency and the kind of pleasing ideas that imbue Ashworth’s contributions too […]
This is the fourth CD from Mick Foster, a master of the baritone saxophone with an obvious debt to Gerry Mulligan […] His rich baritone sound and positive refined playing come over superbly on this very well recorded disc which features a popular selection of well loved melodic tunes.Mick Foster deserves every success with this very enjoyable production, therapy for overworked ears.”
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