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…
Nominations for the 45th Annual Grammy Awards were announced today, making Blue Note a very happy label. Norah Jones and her debut album, Come Away With Me, garnered eight nominations, including Album of the Year, Song of the Year (“Don’t Know Why” by Jesse Harris), Record of the Year and New Artist of the Year. It was the most nominations for any album in this year’s Grammys, which will be awarded Feb. 23 at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Among the nominations in the jazz catergories are:
Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group: Michel Camilo, Triangulo (Telarc); Dave Douglas, The Infinite (Bluebird); Herbie Hancock, Michael Brecker & Roy Hargrove, Directions In Music (Verve); Wayne Shorter, Footprints Live! (Verve); McCoy Tyner, Plays John Coltrane - Live At The Village Vanguard (Impulse!)
Best Contemporary Jazz Album: Larry Carlton, Deep Into It (Warner Bros.); Pat Metheny Group, Speaking Of Now (Warner Bros.); John Scofield Band, Überjam (Verve); Yellowjackets, Mint Jam (Buzz Promotions); Joe Zawinul, Faces & Places (ESC Records).
Best Jazz Vocal Album: Patti Austin, For Ella (Playboy Jazz); Natalie Cole, Ask A Woman Who Knows (Verve); Etta Jones, Etta Jones Sings Lady Day (HighNote); Diana Krall, Live In Paris (Verve); Luciana Souza, Brazilian Duos (Sunnyside)
Best Jazz Instrumental Solo: “Naima,” Michael Brecker, soloist from Directions In Music; “Chelsea Bridge,” Pete Christlieb, soloist from: This Is The Moment; “Sunset & The Mockingbird,” Tommy Flanagan, soloist from A Great Night In Harlem; “My Ship,” Herbie Hancock, soloist from Directions In Music; “Proof,” Pat Metheny, soloist from Speaking Of Now.
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album: Slide Hampton And SWR Big Band, Jazz Matinee (Hänssler Classic); Dave Holland Big Band, What Goes Around (ECM); Mingus Big Band, Tonight At Noon…Three Or Four Shades Of Love (Dreyfus); Sammy Nestico, This Is The Moment (Fenwood Music); The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Can I Persuade You? (Planet Arts Recordings).
For a complete listing of all nominees, go to www.grammy.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…
“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.…
