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…
The National Endowment for the Arts has announced that saxophonist Jimmy Heath, percussionist Elvin Jones and vocalist Abbey Lincoln will receive the 2003 American Jazz Masters Fellowships. The awards recognize significant contributions to jazz, artistic excellence and impact on the music field. Every year, a panel of experts selects up to three artists from a pool of nominations submitted by the national jazz community and the public. Each artist receives a one-time fellowship of $20,000.
A.B. Spellman, a Deputy Chairman at the Arts Endowment and author of Four Lives in the Bebop Business, made the announcement at the San Francisco Jazz Festival. “The National Endowment for the Arts is honored to recognize these great artists not only for their exceptional talent, dedication and hard work but also for the outstanding contributions they have made to the uniquely American art form that is jazz,” Spellman said.
The American Jazz Masters Fellowship awards will be presented at an Arts Endowment-supported concert on January 10, 2003, in Toronto, Canada during the 30th annual conference of the International Association for Jazz Education. To date, 67 artists have been named American Jazz Masters, among the nation’s most prestigious honors in the jazz field. These jazz masters form an unofficial jazz hall of fame and include Dave Brubeck, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald and Dizzy Gillespie.
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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