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…
Matana Roberts is among the recipients of the 2016 Doris Duke Artist Awards for jazz.
(Photo: Paula Court)Trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith, saxophonist Matana Roberts and pianist Fred Hersch are among the jazz artists recognized as recipients of the fifth annual Doris Duke Artist Awards, presented by The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation (DDCF).
Appointed in recognition of an artist’s ongoing contribution to the fields of dance, jazz and theater, awardees will each receive $275,000 in flexible, multi-year funding as well as financial and legal counseling, professional development activities and peer-to-peer learning opportunities.
This year, a total of eight jazz artists were honored with the prestigious award. Other winners in the jazz category include trumpeter Dave Douglas, pianist-composer Wayne Horvitz, pianist Jason Moran, multi-instrumentalist Jen Shyu and reedist Henry Threadgill, who in April won a Pulitzer Prize for music for his album In For A Penny, In For A Pound (Pi).
With the 2016 class, DDCF will have awarded approximately $27.7 million to 101 noteworthy artists.
According to its website, the mission of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation is to support the performing arts, environmental conservation, medical research and child well-being through preservation of the cultural and environmental legacy of philanthropist Doris Duke’s properties.
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.…
