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…
Singer Koko Taylor, known worldwide as the queen of Chicago blues, died on Wednesday of gastrointestinal bleeding. She was 80.
Taylor, who was born in Tennessee, was singing since childhood and took her love of music to Chicago, when she made the city her home in 1952. She sang in Chicago’s then-thriving blues clubs and her aggressive growl caught the attention of Willie Dixon, who brought her to Chess Records. At Chess, she recorded her 1965 hit and life-time signature song, “Wang Dang Doodle.”
Even though rock-influenced flashy guitarists dominated much of the blues business in the 1970s and ‘80s, Taylor had a supportive musical home with Chicago’s Alligator Records, which signed her in 1977. She relentlessly toured blues festivals, clubs and theaters worldwide in the decades that followed. Her last album, Old School was released on the label in 2007.
“My career is much better now than it was 20 years ago,” Taylor told DownBeat shortly after recording Old School . “I’m doing a wonderful job to be my age, but I’m not a youngster. I don’t have the energy today that I had 10 years ago, but I’m not about to give up.”
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…
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.…
“There’s nothing quite like it,” Springs says of working with an orchestra. “It’s 60 people working in harmony in the moment. Singing with them is kind of empowering but also humbling at the same time.”
Jun 17, 2025 11:12 AM
When it came time to pose for the cover of her new album, Lady In Satin — a tribute to Billie Holiday’s 1958…
James Brandon Lewis earned honors for Artist of the Year and Tenor Saxophonist of the Year. Three of his recordings placed in the Albums of the Year category.
Jul 17, 2025 12:44 PM
You see before you what we believe is the largest and most comprehensive Critics Poll in the history of jazz. DownBeat…
