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…
Hi-resolution versions of the albums Pat Metheny recorded for the ECM label are being made available online.
(Photo: Rolf Frison)Guitarist Pat Metheny forged a singular and instantly recognizable sound during his relationship with the ECM label.
Hi-resolution versions of his albums for the label—like American Garage, which featured late keyboardist Lyle Mays, and Bright Size Life—were made available Friday on digital platforms for the first time.
“The main premise in digitizing the Pat Metheny tapes was not to change the sound of the recordings, but to realize them in the original form, in the best possible quality,” ECM mastering engineer Christoph Stickel said in a note to press.
“The work was based on the original, analog stereo master tapes. The masters are in very good condition and can be played without problems,” he continued. “All tapes were played by a Studer A820, which was meticulously calibrated to the respective tape. The analog signal was digitized in 96kHz/24-bit, which covers the complete spectrum of the original bands. In each case, a decision was made between a PrismSound ADA-8XR, an Antelope Eclipse Mastering AD and a Mythek Brooklyn ADC, depending on which one suited the respective recording best. No denoising and no other restoration affecting the sound was carried out.”
The music is slated to be available on Acoustic Sounds (download), Amazon (streaming), Apple Music (download and streaming), HDtracks (download), Prostudiomaster (download), Qobuz (download and streaming) and Tidal (MQA Master streaming). 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…
Benny Benack III and his quartet took the Midwest Jazz Collective’s route for a test run this spring.
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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.
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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.”
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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…
