Saxophonist Foster to lead Pierce Street Jazz

Foster’s credits include work with many famous acts including Barbara Streisand, Mel Tormé, Natalie Cole, and Michael Bublé, as well as performances on more than 500 movie scores including for “Monsters, Inc.” and “Ice Age.”

A native of Kansas, Foster began playing clarinet at age 13 and later earned degrees in clarinet performance and music education from the University of Kansas. After moving to Los Angeles, he became a studio musician. Over the years he joined many jazz and big bands including those for Clare Fischer, Poncho Sanchez, and Rosemary Clooney. His credits for work in television, movies, recordings and media are extensive, and as a true and unique crossover talent, he has also performed regularly with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the Los Angeles Opera Orchestra and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. He has also served on the faculties of various colleges and universities, and is currently a music instructor at California State University, Fullerton. 

The Gary Foster Quartet will perform on Wed., June 25 at the Troesh Conference Center of the Zapara School of Business at La Sierra. The show begins at 7 p.m. Admission is free.

Foster’s band includes Theo Saunders on piano, Ramon Banda on drums and Putter Smith on bass. The musicians are veterans of the performance, recording and film industries and have played with Poncho Sanchez, Diane Schuur, Ray Charles, Gladys Knight, Freddie Hubbard, David “Fathead” Newman, Barbara Morrison, and many others. 

La Sierra University is located at 4500 Riverwalk Parkway, Riverside. For further information call 951-785-2148.