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…
New Orleans trumpeter Kermit Ruffins will headline the Louis Armstrong Wonderful World Festival in Queens, New York, on July 16.
(Photo: Courtesy Basin Street Records)The third annual Louis Armstrong’s Wonderful World festival will take place July 16 at Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens, New York. The festival, which celebrates the life and legacy of the iconic trumpeter and longtime Queens resident, showcases a diverse music lineup and family-friendly activities.
Keyboardist/vocalist Dr. John, an icon of New Orleans’ music, will headline the festival, along with funk-jazz trio Soulive and Crescent City trumpeter Kermit Ruffins. World-music bands Samba New York, Dahka Band and Folklore Urbano will round out the lineup, adding variety to an eclectic daylong program.
The festival is produced by the Kupferberg Center for the Arts at Queens College. Jeffrey Rosenstock, executive director of Kupferberg Center for the Arts said, “Not only did Louis Armstrong call Queens his home, he believed in ‘listening to all kinds of music,’ music that can be heard daily throughout our borough’s multicultural communities. Louis traveled around the world sharing his music. Our goal this year is to celebrate his New Orleans roots, and showcase some of the incredible music being played in and around Queens by artists whose origins span the globe.”
The free, all-ages festival also explores the growing culture in Queens beyond music, providing opportunities for face painting, arts and crafts, dancing and a circus.
When not at the music stage or the activities, festival-goers can tour the Louis Armstrong House Museum, which will present a special exhibit for the festival. Armstrong lived at this location, now a National Historic Landmark, from 1943 until his death in 1971.
DownBeat subscribers will recall that the cover story for the October 2014 issue featured a photo session with trombonist Wycliffe Gordon at the Louis Armstrong House Museum.
The third annual Louis Armstrong’s Wonderful World festival will run from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on July 16. While the event is free, visitors are encouraged to register at the festival website.
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…