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…
Legendary R&B singer Ruth Brown died on Friday in Las Vegas. She was 78. The cause of her death was attributed to complications from a heart attack and stroke.
Brown is best known for the hits she recorded for Atlantic Records in the 1950s, including “So Long” and “(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean.” Not only did her tough delivery set the standard for a legion of r&b and rock singers, but the records’ commercial success was invaluable to building the label. In later years, Brown turned to acting and portrayed DJ Motormouth Maybelle in the 1988 film, Hairspray .
While the Virginia-born singer’s best known musical performances were those Atlantic R&B hits, she also worked in jazz. In the 1940s, Brown briefly sang with Lucky Millender’s big band. Twenty years later, she recorded with the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Big Band. Her 1989 recording, Blues On Broadway won the Grammy for best jazz vocal performance, female.
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…
“Branford’s playing has steadily improved,” says younger brother Wynton Marsalis. “He’s just gotten more and more serious.”
May 20, 2025 11:58 AM
Branford Marsalis was on the road again. Coffee cup in hand, the saxophonist — sporting a gray hoodie and a look of…
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.…
