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…
Although not aired on the prime time nationwide broadcast on CBS, several jazz awards were presented at the 44th annual Grammy Awards on Wednesday nights. Among these awards were:
Best Contemporary Jazz Album: M2 by Marcus Miller (Telarc)
Best Jazz Vocal Album: The Calling by Dianne Reeves (Blue Note)
Best Jazz Instrumental Solo: “Chan’s Song,” Michael Brecker, soloist; track from Nearness Of You—The Ballad Book (Verve)
Best Jazz Instrumental Album: This Is What I Do, Sonny Rollins (Milestone)
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album: Homage To Count Basie, Bob Mintzer Big Band (Digital Music Products)
Best Latin Jazz Album: Nocturne, by Charlie Haden (Verve)
In addition, other awards of note came from Best Spoken Word album, which went to Q: The Autobiography Of Quincy Jones (Simon and Schuster Audio); Best Historical Album, which went to Lady Day: The Complete Billie Holiday On Columbia 1933-1944 (Columbia/Legacy Recordings); and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical, which went to Diana Krall’s The Look Of Love (Verve), which was engineered by Al Schmitt.
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…
“What did I want more of when I was this age?” Sasha Berliner asks when she’s in her teaching mode.
May 13, 2025 12:39 PM
Part of the jazz vibraphone conversation since her late teens, Sasha Berliner has long come across as a fully formed…
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…