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…
Blue Mitchell’s 1964 album The Thing To Do is one of five vintage Blue Note albums that will be reissued on vinyl on May 6. (Photo: Blue Note Records/©Mosaic Images)
(Photo: )The label Blue Note has become a curator on the streaming service Apple Music, giving fans another way to enjoy new and classic jazz from the esteemed label’s diverse roster of artists.
In addition to iTunes.com/BlueNote, a dedicated iTunes destination, Blue Note is now an official curator on Apple Music, making it the first jazz label to be given the honor.
Blue Note’s curated playlists explore many eras and styles, with themes like The Hits, The Ballads, Vital Organs, Jazz Now!, Jazz Meets Hip-Hop and Blue Note’s Jazz Vocalists. (DownBeat is also an official Apple Music curator.)
Blue Note has released several notable albums in 2016, presenting new music from legendary saxophonist Charles Lloyd (I Long To See You,) jazz organ icon Dr. Lonnie Smith (Evolution), British band GoGo Penguin (Man Made Object) and Paris-based saxophonist Logan Richardson, whose label debut, Shift, features guitarist Pat Metheny, pianist Jason Moran, bassist Harish Raghavan and drummer Nasheet Waits.
Blue Note is also continuing to mine its 77-year history by reissuing 12-inch vinyl versions of some of its classic titles. Among the LPs already available are saxophonist John Coltrane’s Blue Train, pianist Thelonious Monk’s Genius Of Modern Music and saxophonist Wayne Shorter’s Speak No Evil.
The Blue Note Records Vinyl Reissue Series continues on May 6 with the release of vintage titles on LP from vocalist Sheila Jordan, saxophonist Ike Quebec, trumpeter Blue Mitchell, organist Big John Patton and saxophonist Sam Rivers.
Jordan’s 1962 album Portrait Of Sheila was one of the few vocal albums that Blue Note founder Alfred Lion recorded during the label’s classic era. Jordan interprets a set of standards backed by guitarist Barry Galbraith, bassist Steve Swallow and drummer Denzil Best. The program includes a memorable vocalese version of Bobby Timmons’ “Dat Dere.”
Quebec’s 1961 album Blue And Sentimental illustrates his bluesy, soulful style with the stellar quartet of guitarist Grant Green, bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Philly Joe Jones.
Recorded in 1964, The Thing To Do was Mitchell’s second album for Blue Note and featured the beautiful ballad “Mona’s Mood.” The band included tenor saxophonist Junior Cook and bassist Gene Taylor. This album marked the first Blue Note appearances by pianist Chick Corea and drummer Al Foster.
Let ’Em Roll (1965) was Patton’s fifth Blue Note album and featured a quartet with vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson, guitarist Green and drummer Otis Finch.
Rivers’ debut album, Fuchsia Swing Song, was recorded in 1964. Featuring a quartet of like-minded explorers with Jaki Byard on piano, Ron Carter on bass and Tony Williams on drums, the album presented six Rivers originals, including the ballad “Beatrice.”
To follow the Blue Note Apple Music profile, click here. To see Blue Note’s iTunes destination, click here. To learn more about the label’s vinyl reissues, click here.
To see DownBeat’s Apple Music playlists, click here. To read a DownBeat Editors’ Pick review of GoGo Penguin’s Man Made Object, click here. To read a review of guitarist Lionel Loueke’s 2015 Blue Note album Gaia, click here.
DB
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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