Mick Foster

Biography

Mick Foster studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London. He has since worked extensively in the fields of jazz, commercial and classical music as a saxophonist, clarinettist and composer. He has played and recorded with a wide range of ensembles which include the Stan Sulzmann Big Band, the Michael Garrick Big Band, The London Jazz Orchestra, Frank Griffith’s Nonet, Issie Barratt, La Banda Europa, Ute Lemper, Digby Fairweather and the Back To Basie Orchestra.

He has also worked with John Dankworth and Cleo Laine, Jacqui Dankworth, Trudy Kerr, Mark Lockheart, Guy Barker, Mark Nightingale, The Philharmonia Orchestra, The London Philharmonic Orchestra, the BBC Concert Orchestra and the Syd Lawrence Orchestra. Mick has recorded three albums under his own name and is in demand as a session musician; recent work has included BBC1’s Strictly Come Dancing and ITV’s Downton Abbey.

As a composer, in addition to writing for his own groups, Mick has written for various ensembles, which include the London Jazz Orchestra, Quartz Saxophone Quartet, Docklands Sinfonia and Onyx Brass. His music has been broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and has been played in many parts of the world including Europe, America, Asia and Australia.

Mick is active as an educator; in addition to teaching at the UK’s major conservatoires he is a tutor for the National Youth Jazz Collective.