Herman Foster

American bebop jazz pianist

Herman Foster
Born	(1928-04-26)April 26, 1928 Philadelphia, U.S.
Died	April 3, 1999(1999-04-03) (aged 70) New York City, New York
Genres	Bebop, jazz
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instrument(s)	Piano

Musical artist

Herman Foster (April 26, 1928 – April 3, 1999) was an American bebop jazz pianist.

He was blinded during childbirth through the carelessness of a doctor. He began his musical career early playing the violin, clarinet, saxophone, and piano. He became a self-taught pianist. His family moved from Philadelphia to New York City in 1947 where he began to attend jam sessions and then played with Eric Dixon, Dick Carter and the big band of Herb Jones. Then he met Lou Donaldson and they played together from 1953 to 1966. He also worked with King Curtis, Bill English, and Seldon Powell in the 1950s, and with Al Casey and Gloria Lynne in the 1960s, in addition to playing with his own trio. He returned to work in Donaldson's quartet in the 1980s. In 1996 he married Hisayo Tominaga, a jazz vocalist.

Discography

As leader

Year recorded	Title	Label	Personnel
1960?	Have You Heard	Epic	Trio, with Earl May (bass), Frankie Dunlop (drums)
1961?	The Explosive Piano of Herman Foster	Epic	Trio, with Earl May (bass), Grassella Oliphant (drums)
1963	Ready and Willing	Argo	Trio, with Herman Wright (bass), Bruno Carr (drums)
1984?	The One and Only	Timeless	Trio, with Jeff Fuller (bass), Victor Jones (drums)