Jun 3, 2025 11:25 AM
In Memoriam: Al Foster, 1943–2025
Al Foster, a drummer regarded for his fluency across the bebop, post-bop and funk/fusion lineages of jazz, died May 28…
A panel of judges that included Quincy Jones, Herb Alpert, Clark Terry and Terence Blanchard selected Ambrose Akinmusire as the winner of the 2007 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Trumpet Competition held on Oct. 28 at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles. As the winner, Akinmusire received a $20,000 scholarship.
Akinmusire was born in Nigeria and grew up in Oakland, Calif. He started playing drums at age 4, drums at age 11 and trumpet at age 12. He studied with Steve Coleman at the Manhattan School of Music and in 2001 began touring and recording with him. Akinmusire has toured with Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter.
Second-place winner Jean Caze was awarded $10,000 and third-place winner Michael Rodriguez received a $5,000 scholarship. The competition will air nationwide on BET and PBS.
Foster was truly a drummer to the stars, including Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins and Joe Henderson.
Jun 3, 2025 11:25 AM
Al Foster, a drummer regarded for his fluency across the bebop, post-bop and funk/fusion lineages of jazz, died May 28…
“Branford’s playing has steadily improved,” says younger brother Wynton Marsalis. “He’s just gotten more and more serious.”
May 20, 2025 11:58 AM
Branford Marsalis was on the road again. Coffee cup in hand, the saxophonist — sporting a gray hoodie and a look of…
Roscoe Mitchell will receive a Lifetime Achievement award at this year’s Vision Festival.
May 27, 2025 6:21 PM
Arts for Art has announced the full lineup for the 2025 Vision Festival, which will run June 2–7 at Roulette…
Benny Benack III and his quartet took the Midwest Jazz Collective’s route for a test run this spring.
Jun 3, 2025 10:31 AM
The time and labor required to tour is, for many musicians, daunting at best and prohibitive at worst. It’s hardly…
To record Dream Manifest (Dom Recs), Croker convened artists from his current and recent past ensembles, plus special guests.
Jun 10, 2025 4:13 PM
Partway through his early set at Smoke Jazz Club, Theo Croker blinks the room back into focus. He leans over the piano.…
