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…
Marquis Hill benefited from time spent at the Velvet Lounge, a jazz room on the South Side of Chicago run by saxophonist Fred Anderson (1929–2010).
(Photo: Todd Rosenberg)“It was blatant that this person was following me around the store, to the point that it felt like a shadow,” he said. “I had never felt like that in my life. After dinner, we got back on the tour bus and I wanted to put that feeling into music. I turned that negative situation into a tune.”
The agitation Hill felt is palpable in the skittery rhythms he employs, yet the piece maintains its lyrical bearings. For all the social concerns at the heart of Hill’s art, his music does not dwell in the darkness. That, he said, is due in no small measure to the influence of his grandmother, a constant touchpoint.
She was the inspiration for “The Watcher,” a reference to her role as an elder who, in the absence of police, kept an eye out in the neighborhood for developing problems. The tune, from Modern Flows Vol. 2, has its moments of alarm, heralded by ominous horn figures repeated over a rumble of bass and drums. Still, it displays a sense of equanimity throughout.
Another tune from Hill’s most recent work inspired by his grandmother, “It’s All Beautiful,” casts a soft glow as vibraphonist Ross’ harmonies illuminate the horns’ simple melody. By Hill’s account, the piece, rendered without embellishment, echoes his grandmother’s spirit—and, by extension, his own.
“She had a way of coping with the hardships of life by reminding us we have a choice,” he said. “In these crazy times, we can live in Hell. But I’d rather put my energy into something that’s beautiful.” 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…
“Branford’s playing has steadily improved,” says younger brother Wynton Marsalis. “He’s just gotten more and more serious.”
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“What did I want more of when I was this age?” Sasha Berliner asks when she’s in her teaching mode.
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Roscoe Mitchell will receive a Lifetime Achievement award at this year’s Vision Festival.
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Benny Benack III and his quartet took the Midwest Jazz Collective’s route for a test run this spring.
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The time and labor required to tour is, for many musicians, daunting at best and prohibitive at worst. It’s hardly…
