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…
That’s What Happened captures Miles Davis on the comeback trail of his career in the early to mid-1980s.
(Photo: Purple Trap/Black Editions)With all the new releases coming out around the holidays, here are a few team DownBeat is digging into right now!
Brian Auger, Julie Driscoll & The Trinity
Far Horizons (Soul Bank)
Organist Brian Auger was one of the first adventurers to start breaking down the walls between jazz, R&B and pop music back in the 1960s, and these Trinity releases serve as proof. When the group added soul-pop vocalist Julie Driscoll to the mix, they were not just breaking down walls, they turned heads. Far Horizons pulls the group’s four records, released between 1967 and 1970, into this one neat package. soulbankmusic.bandcamp.com
Peter Brötzmann/Keiji Haino
Duo (Purple Trap/Black Editions)
The free music duo of German saxophonist Peter Brötzmann and guitarist/vocalist Keiji Haino have pulled out a four-LP box set of music, their first release since 1996, that includes eight, full-size, full-color art prints by the artists. The music is a full-force flight into the unknown. blackeditionsgroup.com
Miles Davis
That’s What Happened: 1982–1985: The Bootleg Series Vol. 7 (Columbia/Legacy)
The latest in Columbia’s Miles Davis Bootleg Series, That’s What Happened captures Davis on the comeback trail of his career. The three-disc set contains previously unreleased cuts from Star People, Decoy and You’re Under Arrest as well as Davis and his crew live in Montreal from July 7, 1983. Check out DownBeat’s October issue for the 4-star review of the box. legacyrecordings.com
Ella Fitzgerald
Jukebox Ella: The Complete Verve Singles, Vol. 1 (Verve)
For the first time ever, Verve collects the singles Ella Fitzgerald released on the label in one, beautifully packaged box. The 36-song, three-LP set features a tidal wave of Ella hits, including “Beale Street Blues,” “A Tisket, A Tasket,” “Travelin’ Light,” “Desafinado,” “The Shadow Of Your Smile” and more. The limited first pressing on this one is set at 1,000. umusic.com
Billie Holiday
The Complete Decca Recordings (Verve)
This 50-track collection spans Holiday’s five-plus years recording for the Decca label. The four-LP, limited-edition set features mastered takes on the 36 tunes Lady Day cut for Decca, plus a variety of alternate versions. The first pressing is 2,000. umusic.com
Wadada Leo Smith
String Quartets No. 1–12 (TUM)
Emerald Duets (TUM)
The great trumpeter and composer refuses to be confined by genre or label. For his 80th birthday, he went big, delivering not one, but two major box sets. String Quartets No. 1–12 matches Smith with the RedKoral Quartet performing string compositions Smith began working on as long ago as 1965. Emerald Duets pairs Smith with a host of friends such as Pheeroan akLaff, Andrew Cyrille, Han Bennink and Jack DeJohnette for five CDs worth of camaraderie. See DownBeat’s September issue for the full scoop. tumrecords.com
Check out all of DownBeat’s Holiday Gift Guide here!
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…
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.…
“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…
