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…
Benny Golson has announced the debut of his new jazztet, a sextet that aims to revive the three-horn front line of the co-led Golson–Art Farmer Jazztet, which released seven albums from 1960–1962. The group’s first album, New Time, New ‘Tet on Concord Jazz, is due out Jan. 20. Led by Golson, this version of the jazztet features Eddie Henderson, Steve Davis, Mike LeDonne, Buster Williams and Carl Allen playing a standard jazz repertoire and new compositions by Golson inspired by Giuseppi Verdi and Frederic Chopin.
“The task of reconceiving a group with the strong identity and powerful longevity of the original jazztet is no obvious matter,” Golson said. “The choice of new players is crucial, of course. They must be up to the job of making a new group sound every bit as identifiable and engaging as the earlier band—but not in competition with it. In short, the new Jazztet has to have its own artistic identity while it also carries on the highly acclaimed Jazztet tradition. I think we’ve done that here.”
More info: concordmusicgroup.com
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…
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You see before you what we believe is the largest and most comprehensive Critics Poll in the history of jazz. DownBeat…
