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…
Chicago harmonica ace Little Arthur Duncan died Aug. 20 at Kindred Hospital in Northlake, Ill. He was 74.
Born Feb. 5, 1934, in Indianola, Miss., Arthur moved to Chicago at age 16, where he heard and befriended Little Walter, who inspired him to take up the harmonica. While holding down a construction day job, he began performing around Chicago with John Brim, Floyd Jones, and Hip Lankchan. He would later own and operate the Artesia Lounge on Lake Street, which moved to West Madison Street and reopened as Backscratcher’s Social Club. Owning a club gave Arthur a regular place to perform, and he became a popular neighborhood attraction on the West Side. Twist Turner produced some of Arthur’s first recordings, which appeared first on cassette and then on Cannonball Records’ Blues Across America series.
As Arthur’s stature grew in Chicago, he recorded more, cutting two CDs for Delmark (Singin’ With The Sun and Live At Rosa’s Blues Lounge
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.…
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