PROFILE / CHRIS FOSTER
Chris Foster is one of Perth’s most in-demand pianists. He has several collaborative projects to his name including Chris Foster Trio, TRISK, Abbey | Foster | Falle and hip-hop trio Optamus. He features regularly with local songstresses and instrumentalists in just about every venue in the city. Chris has toured nationally with Optamus and performed extensively in the east coast with Abbey | Foster | Falle and Johannes Luebbers Dectet.
Chris also appears as a sideman on projects by leading Perth artists such as Daniel Susnjar Quartet, Nick Abby Trio, Kate Pass Kohesia Ensemble, Libby Hammer, Laura Corney, Ryan Daunt and local hip-hop heavyweights Downsyde and Drapht.
In June 2021, Chris received a grant from W.A. Department of Local Government Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSC) to assist with funding his debut album recording as a leader. The resulting album entitled ‘In Motion’ was released in October 2022 to widespread acclaim. Chris’ extraordinary compositions are crafted specifically for his tight knit trio featuring long-time collaborators Nick Abbey and Daniel Susnjar and are described as expressive, intricate and at times quite delicate.
Chris is an experienced educator conducting jazz workshops and short courses for schools along with lecturing at The West Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) at Edith Cowan University Mt Lawley. Chris also teaches jazz piano at Hale School and St. Stephen’s School.