September 26, 2011
we said farewell to Frank Foster (aka Uncle Frank, Fos) at Abyssinian on Fri. the 23rd. the truly giant tenor saxist & arranger was represented by family & friends who told & played his story with the love & gusto he passed on to them. or should i say musical alliance as family doesn’t cover the topic. Lady Cecelia Foster’s maiden name is Jones, as in Hank, Thad & Elvin. through them there are the Otises, as in Johnny & Shuggie. then there are the extended families, the musicians he touched: the Basie band for whom he arranged & later led, succeeding Thad, whose band he guest conducted at the Village Vanguard when Thad abdicated to Copenhagen. (there’s an LP out there.) and us.
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