Biography

Dan Foster was born and raised in Newcastle upon Tyne. His Dad being a keen classical pianist music was always being played in the house as he grew up. He fell in love with jazz aged 13 and was fortunate to begin playing alto saxophone soon after. 

He quickly progressed, practising lots of long notes and transcribing solos by Charlie Parker, John Coltrane and Cannonball Adderley! At 15 he attended a mind-blowing jazz summer school led by legendary educator Jamey Aebersold and formed bands with friends at school.

At 17 he was accepted onto the jazz course at the Royal Academy of Music where he studied for 4 years under Martin Speake and Stan Sultzmann. At 19 he attended the International Association of Schools of Jazz Summer School with saxophone legend Dave Liebman, who told him he had a great sound. Also while a student he and his friends wrote and performed music that was used as the soundtrack to the BBC2 documentary ‘Taken for Granted’.

Following graduation Dan led bands for Yehudi Menhuin’s ‘Live Music Now’ scheme, performing in schools for children with learning difficulties, prisons and other community-based venues.

In 2001 Dan formed Kairos Ensemble along with his great friends Peter James, Tom Hooper and Richard Fox. The ensemble have produced five albums to date: The River (2002), Psalms Live (2004), Psalms (2006), Passion Suite (2010) and Rejoicing Blues (2013). A further project based on much loved hymns is in the pipeline as they continue to play together. The group has toured extensively in the UK and France and been featured on both BBC Radio 3 and 4.

Dan has had the privilege of playing with some wonderful musicians in the worlds of both jazz and pop. To name just a few: John Etheridge, Mike Garrick, Pasadena Roof Orchestra, London Jazz Orchestra, Tony Hadley, Chris de Burgh, Graham Kendrick, Geraldine Latty, Alex Wilson… Talking Heads frontman David Byrne (a childhood hero) used Freefrom Five’s remix of his hit song ‘Lazy’ on his world tour – a track Dan had written and recorded the brass lines for. 

Alongside performing Dan spent 10 years teaching woodwind both privately and for various music services but since 2007 Dan has also been a Baptist Minister. He now lives with his family in Pembury, Kent where he is pastor of the local Baptist church. He continues to play on a freelance basis, performing to 1000s at Battle Proms and to smaller crowds (!) at jazz venues too.