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…
On Nov. 22, Blue Note will release Higher Ground, a recording from Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Higher Ground Hurricane Relief Benefit Concert held just three weeks after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast.
The concert—led by New Orleans native Wynton Marsalis and produced by Jazz at Lincoln Center—has raised more than $2 million to date, with all proceeds from sales of the CD going directly to the Higher Ground Relief Fund. The fund was established by Jazz at Lincoln Center, and administered through the Baton Rouge Area Foundation to benefit the musicians, music industry related enterprises and other individuals and entities in New Orleans who were impacted by Hurricane Katrina, and to provide other general hurricane relief.
The concert took place at the Rose Theater, and included performances by Norah Jones, Diana Krall, Marsalis, Bette Midler, Art and Aaron Neville, Dianne Reeves, James Taylor, Cassandra Wilson and Buckwheat Zydeco. Higher Ground collects the highlights of the evening on 15 tracks.
For more information, visit the Jazz at Lincoln Center web site.
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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