A textbook bop pianist whose approach was both fluid and animated, and frequently included clever quotes of popular standards interspersed within his solos, Herman Foster spent over 13 years playing with Lou Donaldson, from 1953 to 1966. Earlier, he had worked briefly with Eric Dixon, and during the ’50s recorded with King Curtis and played with Bill English and Sheldon Powell. He recorded with Al Casey and also his own trio in the early ’60s. He reunited with Donaldson in 1981, and worked with Donaldson’s quartet in the late ’80s. ~ Ron Wynn