The Scott Foster Quartet: Further Experiments with Tom Hassett

The Scott Foster Quartet conducts "Further Experiments with Tom Hassett" featuring musical journeys flowing from the mind of drummer Tom Hassett, including repertoire from the John Scofield Quartet, Billy Strayhorn, Bill Evans and others. The experimental format frames Hassett as a musical scientist "probing the secrets of the universe through the vibrations of his drum kit," with Scott Foster on guitar, Jim Peterson on reeds, and Dan Seamans on bass serving as his "lab assistants."

Scott Foster has been the cornerstone of Bird & Beckett's Friday jazz programming for over two decades, holding down the third Friday of each month since 2002. As the venue describes him, Foster is "a supremely talented and versatile player, composer and jazz educator." Beyond performing, he serves as Performing Arts Department Chair and Jazz Band Director at Urban School of San Francisco and has been on faculty at Community Music Center since 1992.

Expect a mix of bebop and standards filtered through Foster's guitar work, which ranges from ambient explorations to traditional jazz counterpoint. The repertoire spans from John Scofield's contemporary jazz fusion to Billy Strayhorn's sophisticated compositions and Bill Evans' introspective harmonies, suggesting an evening that moves between driving rhythms and contemplative moments.

The "Tom Hassett Experiment" concept has become a recurring theme at Bird & Beckett, with the venue playfully describing the drummer as conducting musical research. This format emphasizes improvisation and musical dialogue between the quartet members, creating what the venue calls "musical journeys" that unfold organically during the performance.

Bird & Beckett's intimate bookshop setting provides the perfect laboratory for these musical experiments, where jazz has been nurtured as "a precious asset" in San Francisco's cultural landscape for over a thousand Friday shows.