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…
From left: Mary Halvorson, Sylvie Courvoisier, Aki Takase and Alexander von Schlippenbach will be among the performers at this fall’s Jazzfest Berlin.
(Photo: Jazzfest Berlin)As the fall festival season gets into full swing, artist lineups are being finalized and announced in anticipation of large audience draws and stellar live performances.
The following late-2023 and early-2024 fests are just around the corner, calendar-wise, so start planning your autumn and winter-spring jazz outings now.
BRIC JazzFest
Set to take place Oct. 19–21 on two stages at BRIC House in downtown Brooklyn, this year’s BRIC Jazzfest promises to be an celebration of jazz and its influences. In addition to the live acts, BRIC JazzFest will kick off the first night with a panel discussion exploring the intersection of jazz and hip-hop, and there will be an ongoing film series taking place onsite during the festival. Confirmed artists include Reggie Workman, Alexa Tarantino, Terrace Martin, Melanie Charles/Orrin Evans Duo, Isaiah Collier (Oct. 19); Georgia Anne Muldrow, George Burton, Jonathan Michel: “L’Ouverture” (Oct. 20); Amina Claudine Myers Trio, Sarah Elizabeth Charles, Nite Bjuti featuring Candice Hoyes/Val Jeanty/Mimi Jones (Oct. 21). For the full BRIC Jazzfest lineup, click HERE.
Belgrade Jazz Festival
The Belgrade Jazz Festival, founded in 1971 and currently under the artistic direction of Vojislav Panticruns, will take place Oct. 24–29 in Belgrade, Serbia. Performance highlights include the Gerald Clayton Trio and the Max Kochetov Quartet featuring Fabrizio Bosso on Oct. 25; Oded Tzur Quartet and Leszek Możdżer & Adam Pierończyk on Oct. 26; Paal Nilssen-Love Large Unit on Oct. 27; Dave Douglas Gifts Trio and Isaiah Collier and The Chosen Few on Oct. 28; and John Scofield Trio and Stefano Di Battista on Oct. 29. Too view the full Belgrade Jazz Festival lineup, click HERE.
Jazzfest Berlin
The 60th edition of Jazzfest Berlin, which takes place Nov. 2–5 in Berlin, Germany, will provide a space for playful, intuitive music that brings together different generations in 36 projects. A major highlights of this fall’s gathering is the Nov. 4 premiere of a commissioned composition by Henry Threadgill for his ensemble Zooid and the Berlin-based lineup Potsa Lotsa XL led by saxophonist Silke Eberhard. Other major attractions include Sylvie Courvoisier/Mary Halvorson, Aki Takase/Alexander von Schlippenbach “Four Hand Piano Pieces” and Brandon Lopez/Tom Rainey/Ingrid Laubrock on Nov. 2; Paal Nilssen-Love “Circus” and Fred Frith/Susana Santos Silva/Marià Portugal “Laying Demons To Rest” on Nov. 3; and Bill McHenry/Andrew Cyrille “Proximity” on Nov. 5. For the complete Jazzfest Berlin lineup, click HERE.
Big Ears Festival
On the heels of its 10-year celebration, the Big Ears Festival returns March 21–24, 2024, to Knoxville, Tennessee’s historic downtown district. Jazz icon Herbie Hancock, Led Zeppelin visionary John Paul Jones, performance art pioneer Laurie Anderson, guitar wizard Fred Frith, post-hardcore heroes Unwound, Big Thief’s Adrianne Lenker, bluegrass picker Molly Tuttle, hip-hop legends Digable Planets, multidisciplinary artist Samora Pinderhughes, Malian chanteuse Fatoumata Diawara and Mexico’s Son Rompe Pera highlight a rich and diverse lineup. For the complete schedule of Big Ears performances, 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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