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…
Silverman said that all proceeds from Drumology Volume III will benefit the Neil Peart Fund for brain cancer research at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
(Photo: Courtesy Rob Silverman)Drummer-entrepreneur Rob Silverman has garnered loads of attention of late for his St. Louis-based label, Autumn Hill Records. It comes on the strength of a series of three Drumology recordings he made with a Who’s Who in fusion and prog-rock drumming.
While the first two volumes carried such high-profile names as Billy Cobham, Dave Weckl, Steve Smith, Simon Phillips, Kenny Aronoff, Gregg Bissonette and Mike Mangini, the recently released Drumology Volume III boasts a potent lineup of drummers Roy “Futureman” Wooten, Gavin Harrison, Greg Sobel and Budapest-born fusion monster Gergö Borlai.
Weckl returns for this latest edition of Drumology, playing alongside his former Elektric Bandmates Frank Gambale, John Patitucci and Eric Marienthal on a searing tribute to Chick Corea. That powerful, Spanish-tinged homage, “The Alchemist,” written by keyboardist and longtime Weckl collaborator Jay Oliver, also features drummer Steve Gadd, a key Corea sideman since 1976. Silverman and his keyboardist-composer brother Michael both play on all seven tracks of this epic gathering of drumming brethren.
As with the first two volumes, all proceeds from Drumology Volume III will benefit the Neil Peart Fund for brain cancer research at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. “Neil Peart and Dave Weckl are my two biggest influences, though Neil is probably much deeper in my DNA,” Silverman said.
The Drumology projects are just one aspect of what Autumn Hill Records has done since its inception in 2008. The catalog also includes 2020’s Rhythm City, featuring the Silverman brothers with keyboardist Ptah Williams, electric bassist Larry Kornfeld, saxophonist Marienthal and trumpeter Randy Brecker; Italian songstress Clivia Tanisi’s 2020 album Learning How To Fly with Weckl, electric bassist Tom Kennedy, saxophonist Bob Franceschini and keyboardist George Whitty; guitarist Scott Jones’ 2020 album Fictional Characters with keyboardist Steve Hunt, bassist Romain Labaye and drummer Archibald Ligonnière; the Dave Weckl Band’s 2021 album Live In St. Louis; and Kennedy’s 2021 outing Stories, featuring Randy Brecker, saxophonists Bill Evans and Ada Rovatti, drummer Weckl and guitarist Mike Stern. In 2022, the label released In These Times by the Michael Silverman/Eric Marienthal Band, as well as the Pat Petrillo Big Rhythm Band’s The Power Station Sessions.
Rob and Michael’s other ongoing concern is Bach to the Future, an adventurous group featuring saxophonist Marienthal and electric six-string violinist Tracy Silverman that reimagines familiar classical music pieces like “Flight Of The Bumble Bee,” “Jesu, Joy Of Man’s Desiring” and “Pachelbel’s Canon.” Silverman exclusively plays the wireless Zendrum MIDI controller in this innovative ensemble. As he explained, “The Zendrum is the commercially available version of the SynthAxe Drumitar, which is the instrument that Roy Wooten introduced in The Flecktones. And it just gives you an unlimited array of sounds at your fingertips.” 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…
