Frank Foster, Sjo Plan Evening Of Basie Hits

Count Basie lives again Saturday night at The Met, when tenor sax legend Frank Foster leads the Spokane Jazz Orchestra through an evening of the master’s music.

This is the final show in the SJO’s 1996-97 “Giants of Jazz” series.

If Duke Ellington’s music was urbane and complex, Basie’s was hard-charging swing at its very best. Powered by such great drummers as Jo Jones and Buddy Rich, and home to giants like Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster and Lester Young, it set the standard for musicians for generations.

Foster joined Basie’s outfit in 1953 and quickly became more than a member. He was a key arranger and composer for the band and one of its most powerful soloists. “Foster is a titan among the soloists,” raves the Penguin Guide to Jazz.

So central was his role that after Basie’s death, Foster was asked to assume leadership of the orchestra. He finally resigned that position in 1995 to once again pursue his own career.

During his decade with Basie, Foster wrote such classics as “Shiny Stockings,” “Blues in Frankie’s Flat” and “Four-Five-Six.”

But his career has extended far beyond the Basie legacy: He has arranged for Frank Sinatra and won Grammy nominations for his work with George Benson and Diane Schuur. That’s in addition to the 13 Grammys garnered by the Basie band.

Foster’s own groups have included a quintet, a 12-piece dance band and a 23-piece big band. He has been awarded three honorary degrees and has taught at such schools as the New England Conservatory of Music and Rutgers University.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: SJO at The Met The Spokane Jazz Orchestra will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday at The Met. Tickets are $16 (or $14.50 for students, seniors and military; and $13.50 for SJO members), available at G&B Select-a-Seat outlets or call (800) 325-SEAT. Students with ID can get tickets for $8 at the door.