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…
Joel Dorn, a Grammy Award-winning record producer who first made a name for himself while at Atlantic Records in the late 1960s and early ‘70s, died on Monday from a heart attack in New York City at the age of 65.
Dorn’s discography stretches from the multiplatinum soul sounds of Roberta Flack to the jazz of Rahsaan Roland Kirk. He helped introduce Bette Midler and the funky New Orleans r&b of the Neville Brothers. His name can be found on the back of recordings by Les McCann and Eddie Harris, Mose Allison, Yusef Lateef, Leon Redbone, Peter Allen, Don Mclean, the Allman Brothers Band, David “Fathead” Newman, Donny Hathaway and Mongo Santamaria.
From an early age, Dorn knew he wanted to be in the music business, specifically for Atlantic Records. At 14, he began correspondence with the label’s co-founder Nesuhi Ertegun.
In 1961, Dorn began his career as a disc jockey at the Philadelphia jazz radio station WHAT-FM.
Ertegun offered Dorn the chance to produce one record by an artist of his choice for Atlantic Jazz in 1963. Dorn chose Hubert Laws, a young flutist he had seen in Philly performing with Santamaria’s band. The resulting album, The Laws Of Jazz, would become the first of many production credits to follow.
When Rhino began to reissue the Atlantic jazz catalog in 1993, Dorn spearheaded the campaign, producing and annotating nearly two dozen titles. In addition to his work for Atlantic and Rhino, Dorn released archival recordings on his own labels Night, M, and 32 Records (including the Jazz For A Rainy Afternoon compilations).
At the time of his death, Dorn was completing a five CD box set for Rhino Handmade entitled Homage A Nesuhi, serving as a tribute to his mentor Ertegun and their years together at Atlantic. He was also the voice of Sirius Satellite Radio’s “Pure Jazz” channel.
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.
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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.
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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.”
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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.
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You see before you what we believe is the largest and most comprehensive Critics Poll in the history of jazz. DownBeat…
