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…
Davis founded Pyroclastic Records in 2016.
(Photo: Caroline Mardok)Pianist and composer Kris Davis will present the Pyroclastic Records Festival Jan. 13–14 during the New York Winter JazzFest. Performances will take place at The Jazz Gallery, 1158 Broadway, fifth floor, in New York City.
On Friday, Jan. 13 at 7:30 p.m., bassist Chris Lightcap’s Superette Deluxe with guitarists Steve Cardenas and Luca Benedetti, keyboardist Brian Marsella and drummer Dan Rieser will perform. Later that evening, at 9:30 p.m., the festival will present the Mary Halvorson (guitar)/Sylvie Courvoisier (piano) Duo Searching for the Disappeared Hour. Pianist Craig Taborn will play a Friday-night solo set starting at 11 p.m.
Bassist Eric Revis’ quintet Slipknots Through a Looking Glass with pianist Kris Davis, drummer Chad and saxophonists Darius Jones and Bill McHenry will kick off the Saturday night portion of the fest with a 7:30 p.m. performance. Patricia Brennan More Touch (Brennan, vibraphone, marimba; Kim Cass, bass; Mauricio Herrera, percussion; Marcus Gilmore, drums) will take the stage at 9:30 p.m.
Davis founded Pyroclastic Records in 2016 to support artists in the dissemination of their work by empowering emerging and established artists to challenge conventional genre-labeling within their fields. The label supports diversity and expanding the audience for noncommercial art. This year, Pyroclastic plans to release albums by Davis, Ingrid Laubrock, Mark Dresser, Sylvie Courvoisier and Cory Smythe, Brandon Seabrook and Angelica Sanchez, among others.
For more information, visit jazzgallery.org or pyroclasticrecords.com. 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.
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…
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…