#alfoster

Al Foster drum solo w/ Sonny Rollins Quartet: Jazz Jamboree Festival, Warsaw, Poland, 1980

Happy Heavenly To Al Foster.

Aloysius Tyrone "Al" Foster (January 18, 1943 – May 28, 2025) was a highly influential American jazz drummer celebrated for his versatility across bebop, post-bop, and jazz fusion.

Key Musical Contributions

Miles Davis Collaboration: Foster is best known for his long association with Miles Davis, joining his group in 1972. He was the only musician to play in Davis's band both before his 1975–1980 retirement and after his 1981 comeback. Davis famously praised Foster for his ability to "keep the groove going forever".

Prolific Sideman: Beyond Davis, he was a first-call drummer for legendary artists, including Sonny Rollins, Herbie Hancock, Joe Henderson, McCoy Tyner, and Stan Getz.

Signature Style: He was recognized for a distinctive "in-the-pocket" groove and a unique "reverse hi-hat" technique, where he kept the hi-hat closed by default and opened it only when striking it.

Solo Career: Foster led his own groups and released several solo albums, beginning with Mixed Roots (1978). His final two albums, including Live at Smoke, were released on the Smoke Sessions Records label. 

Awards and Recognition

NEA Jazz Master: Honored as a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master in 2002.

Modern Drummer Hall of Fame: Inducted for his significant impact on the drumming community.

Drummer of the Year: Awarded by the Jazz Journalists Association in 2007. 

Digital Crate Digging Continues as we pull up on this Throwback Thursday  / Thankful Thursday! Retro futuristic is how we’re living taking it back to the future, by now y’all should know how the work will be! Afternoon Jazzing and O-Dog Day Partying in the heart of this thing rebuking the devil and his advocates playing their versions of the truth game! Many are out here spazzing as the saga /…

Miles Davis live in Stockholm 1973

Joe Henderson – An Evening With Joe Henderson (Full Album)

An Evening with Joe Henderson is a live album by American jazz saxophonist Joe Henderson recorded in Italy in 1987 and released on the Red label.

Miles Davis – Come Get It

Sunday Jazz err I mean Digital Crate Digging Continues, y’all know where my mind is! Afternoon Jazzing so I’m not out in these streets spazzing! lab techniques? I m enhancing / putting it down like this! You’ll find us on a breakbeat scientific spectrum, show respect for the drum and the good word! Moving forward, now what’s next? posting this episode around lunch time, the meal is…