Jul 22, 2025 10:58 AM
Pianist, Educator Hal Galper Dies at 87
Hal Galper, a pianist, composer and arranger who enjoyed a substantial performing career but made perhaps a deeper…
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), along with the International Association for Jazz Education (IAJE), has commissioned two new compositions to honor the life and work of Frank Foster.
This is the 11th year ASCAP and IAJE have selected composers—one an established composer, the other an emerging composer—to create works celebrating a jazz legend. The organizations awarded cash prizes to composer and jazz trumpeter Tim Hagans, this year’s winner in the former category, and composer Ayn Inserto, this year’s winner in the latter category.
Their pieces will receive their premiere performances at the January 2008 IAJE Conference in Toronto.
Frank Foster is a composer, saxophonist and bandleader, best known for his work as an arranger and leader with the Count Basie Big Band. He joins a list of ASCAP/IAJE honorees that includes Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Dizzy Gillespie.
For more information, see ascap.com.
Galper was often regarded as an underrated master of his craft.
Jul 22, 2025 10:58 AM
Hal Galper, a pianist, composer and arranger who enjoyed a substantial performing career but made perhaps a deeper…
Chuck Mangione on the cover of the May 8, 1975, edition of DownBeat.
Jul 29, 2025 1:00 PM
Chuck Mangione, one of the most popular trumpeters in jazz history, passed away on July 24 at home in Rochester, New…
Jordan was a dyed-in-the-wool bebopper whose formative musical experiences were with Charlie Parker.
Aug 12, 2025 10:24 AM
Sheila Jordan, a vocalist who was celebrated for her scatting and lyric-improvising abilities, died Aug. 11 at her home…
“I don’t guess I’m going to excite you; I know I’m going to excite you,” Palmieri said in an August 1994 DownBeat feature.
Aug 12, 2025 10:33 AM
Famed Latin jazz composer, bandleader and pianist Eddie Palmieri passed away in his New Jersey home on Aug. 6. He was…
“What I got from Percy was the dignity of playing the bass,” Buster Williams said of Percy Heath.
Aug 26, 2025 1:53 PM
Buster Williams, who at the age of 83 has been on the scene for 65 years, had never done a Blindfold Test. The first…