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…
Vocalists Dee Dee Bridgewater and Kurt Elling, saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin, pianist Christian Sands, bassist Yasushi Nakamura and drummer Clarence Penn delivered an amazing night of music as the Monterey Jazz Festival Tour begins its run across 12 states from January through April 2023 in celebration of the fest’s 65th anniversary.
On Jan. 19, with a stop in Palm Desert, California, the MJF Tour performed at the McCallum Theatre for the Performing Arts for 1,000 patrons who responded with a standing ovation and clear appreciation.
The full band opened with the familiar “Too Close For Comfort” featuring Bridgewater and Elling on vocals plus solos by Benjamin and Sands. Elling’s lyrics were featured on the tune “A Remark You Made,” plus a swinging rendition of “Did You Call Her Today” featuring the duo of Elling and Nakamura.
Bridgewater paid homage to Chick Corea with a vocal rendition of “Spain” (lyrics by Al Jarreau), followed by her reflection on “Bye Bye Blackbird,” the first song she ever sang at the MJF with the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra.
One of the highlights of the night was a Benjamin original written in homage to John and Alice Coltrane titled “Trane.” Her fiery solo matched by the intensity of Sands on piano, drawing an inspired reaction from the crowd.
Sands as music director of the tour displayed full command of the night, but also shared an intimate arrangement of Dave Brubeck’s “In Your Own Sweet Way” with an opening piano solo and a bass solo by Nakamura.
The show concluded with the Eddie Harris classic “Compared To What” featuring the full band with a drum solo by Penn and even a nice rap by Benjamin. With personal reflections of their mentors and stories of early Monterey Jazz Fest performances, the night embraced the spirit and 65-year legacy of Monterey Jazz Fest and its tradition of bringing the music of the festival to jazz audiences across the country.
Click HERE for tickets and tour-date information. 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…
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…