On May 28, 2025, Aloysius Tyrone Foster aka Al Foster, died aged 82. He was musician (drums), recorded and performed with Blue Mitchell, Illinois Jacquet, Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon, McCoy Tyner, Horace Silver, Herbie Hancock, Kenny Barron, Joe Henderson, Joanne Brackeen, Cedar Walton, Larry Willis, Steve Kuhn, Tommy Flanagan, Chris Potter, George Adams, Richie Beirach, Peter Bernstein, Walter Bishop Jr, Donald Byrn, Eli Degibri, Eliane Elias, Eric Le Lann, Red Garland, Dexter Gordon, Charlie Haden, Sadik Hakim, Jimmy Heath, Duke Jordan, Shirley Horn, Bobby Hutcherson, Sam Jones, Yusef Lateef, Andy LaVerne, Abbey Lincoln, Fred Lipsius, Larry Willis, George Mraz, Lonnie Liston Smith, Joe Lovano, Frank Morgan, Johnny Lytle, Hugh Masakela, Ronnie Mathews, Tete Montoliu, Sam Morrison, Bud Shank, Reggie Workman, Peter Zak, Cecil Payne, Dave Liebman and Art Pepper. As leader, Foster released eighth albums.
Tag Archives: Al Foster
ScoLoHoFo: Oh!
On January 27, 2003, “Blue Note” label released “Oh!”, album by ScoLoHoFo. It was recorded in July 2002, at “Sear Sound” in New York City, and was produced by John Scofield, Joe Lovano, Dave Holland and Al Foster.
Personnel:
- Joe Lovano – soprano and tenor saxophone
- John Scofield – guitars
- Dave Holland – bass
- Al Foster – drums
- James Farber – engineer, mixing
- Steve Mazur – engineer assistant
- Greg Calbi – mastering
- Gordon H. Jee – creative direction
- Burton Yount – package design
- Jimmy Katz – photography
- Michael Bourne – liner notes
- Eli Wolf – A&R direction, co-producer
- Mantis Evar – product manager
Track listing:
- Oh! – Joe Lovano
- Right About Now – John Scofield
- The Winding Way – Dave Holland
- Bittersweet – Al Foster
- Shorter Form – John Scofield
- New Amsterdam – Joe Lovano
- In Your Arms – Dave Holland
- The Dawn of Time – Joe Lovano
- Brandyn – Al Foster
- Faces – Dave Holland
- Oh I See – John Scofield
Miles Davis: Amandla
On May 18, 1989, “Warner Bros” label released “Amandla”, album by Miles Davis. It was recorded December 1988 – January 1989, at “Clinton Recording Studios”, “Electric Lady Studios”, “The Power Station”, “Right Track Recording” and “Quadrasonic Studio” in New York City, “Le Gonks West” in West Hollywood, ”Ocean Way Recording” in Hollywood, and was produced by George Duke, Tommy LiPuma and Marcus Miller.
Personnel:
- Miles Davis – trumpet, cover art, executive producer
- Michael Landau – guitars
- Foley – guitars
- Jean-Paul Bourelly – guitars
- Billy “Spaceman” Patterson – wah-wah guitar
- Marcus Miller – keyboards, guitars, bass, drums, bass clarinet, soprano saxophone, additional keyboards, arrangements
- George Duke – keyboards, Synclavier, arrangements
- Joey DeFrancesco – additional keyboards
- Joe Sample – acoustic piano
- John Bigham – keyboards, guitars, drum programming, arrangements
- Jason Miles – synthesizer programming
- Ricky Wellman – drums
- Omar Hakim – drums
- Al Foster – drums
- Don Alias – percussion
- Mino Cinelu – percussion
- Paulinho da Costa – percussion
- Bashiri Johnson – percussion
- Kenny Garrett – alto and soprano saxophone
- Rick Margitza – tenor saxophone
- Eric Calvi – recording
- Bruce Miller – recording
- Erik Zobler – recording
- Al Schmitt – additional recording
- Henry Falco – additional engineer
- Alec Head – additional engineer
- Debi Cornish – engineer assistant
- Kevin Fisher – engineer assistant
- Mitch Gibson – engineer assistant
- Roy Hendrickson – engineer assistant
- Ed Korengo – engineer assistant
- Scott Mabuchi – engineer assistant
- Joe Martin – engineer assistant
- Danny Mormando – engineer assistant
- Dave Wolk – engineer assistant
- Bill Schnee – mixing
- Doug Sax – mastering
- Jo Gelbard – cover artwork
- Richard Rothman – photography
- John Bigham – associate producer
- Bibi Green – production coordinator
- Rosemary Kraitz – production coordinator
- Stephanie McCravey – production coordinator
Track listing:
All tracks by Marcus Miller, except where noted.
- Catémbe
- Cobra – George Duke
- Big Time
- Hannibal
- Jo-Jo
- Amandla
- Jilli – John Bigham
- Mr. Pastorius
Blue Mitchell: Down With It!
In April 1966, “Blue Note” label released “Down with It!”, the eleventh Blue Mitchell album. It was recorded in July 1965, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Alfred Lion.
Personnel:
- Blue Mitchell – trumpet
- Junior Cook – tenor saxophone
- Chick Corea – piano
- Gene Taylor – bass
- Al Foster – drums
Personnel:
- Hi-Heel Sneakers – Robert Higginbotham
- Perception – Chick Corea, Blue Mitchell
- Alone, Alone, and Alone – Terumasa Hino
- March on Selma – Blue Mitchell
- One Shirt – William Boone
- Samba de Stacy – William Boone
Kenny Barron: Super Standard
On December 22, 2004, “Venus” label released “Super Standard”, the 41st Kenny Barron album. It was recorded in September 2004, at “Avatar Studio” in New York City, and was produced by Tetsuo Hara and Todd Barkan.
Personnel:
- Kenny Barron – piano
- Jay Leonhart – bass
- Al Foster – drums
- Taz (48) – design
- John Abbott – photography
Track listing:
- All of Me – Gerald Marks, Seymour Simons
- Bye Bye Blackbird – Ray Henderson, Mort Dixon
- Cherokee – Ray Noble
- Cleopatra’s Dream – Bud Powell
- Doxy – Sonny Rollins
- Misty – Erroll Garner, Johnny Burke
- Stolen Moments – Oliver Nelson
- Summer Night – Harry Warren, Al Dubin
- Sunset and the Mockingbird – Duke Ellington
- Sweet and Lovely – Gus Arnheim, Harry Tobias, Jules Lemare
- Willow Weep for Me – Ann Ronell
- Yesterdays – Jerome Kern, Otto Harbach
Blue Mitchell: Heads Up!
In December 1968, “Blue Note” label released “Heads Up!”, the 14th Blue Mitchell album. It was recorded in November 1967, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, NJ, and was produced by Alfred Lion.
Personnel:
- Blue Mitchell – trumpet
- Burt Collins – trumpet
- Jerry Dodgion – flute, alto saxophone
- Junior Cook – tenor saxophone
- Pepper Adams – baritone saxophone
- Julian Priester – trombone
- McCoy Tyner – piano
- Gene Taylor – bass
- Al Foster – drums
- Jimmy Heath, Melba Liston, Duke Pearson, Don Pickett – arrangements
Track listing:
- Heads Up! Feet Down! – Jimmy Heath
- Togetherness – Jimmy Heath
- The Folks Who Live on the Hill – Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein II
- Good Humour Man – Don Pickett
- Len Sirrah – Melba Liston
- The People in Nassau – Blue Mitchell
McCoy Tyner: McCoy Tyner with Stanley Clarke and Al Foster
On January 26, 2000, “Telarc” label released “McCoy Tyner with Stanley Clarke and Al Foster”, the 68th McCoy Tyner album. It was recorded in April 1999, at “Clinton Recording Studio “B” in New York.
Personnel:
- McCoy Tyner: piano
- Stanley Clarke: bass, electric bass
- Al Foster: drums
- Robert Friedrich – recording
- Anilda Carrasquillo – art direction
- Gil Mayers – painting
- Brian Sooy – design
Track listing:
All tracks by McCoy Tyner, except where noted.
- Trane-Like
- Once Upon a Time
- Never Let Me Go – Ray Evans, Jay Livingston
- I Want to Tell You ‘Bout That
- Will You Still Be Mine? – Tom Adair, Mat Dennis
- Goin’ ‘Way Blues
- In the Tradition Of – Stanley Clarke
- The Night has a Thousand Eyes – Buddy Bernier, Jerry Brainin
- Carriba
- Memories
- I Want to Tell You ‘Bout That (alternate take)
Blue Mitchell: The Thing To Do
In June 1965, “Blue Note” label released “The Thing to Do”, the tenth Blue Mitchell album. It was recorded in July 1964, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, and was produced by Alfred Lion.
Personnel:
- Blue Mitchell- trumpet
- Junior Cook- tenor saxophone
- Chick Corea- piano
- Gene Taylor- bass
- Al Foster- drums
Track listing:
- Fungii Mama – Blue Mitchell
- Mona’s Mood – Jimmy Heath
- The Thing to Do – Jimmy Heath
- Step Lightly – Joe Henderson
- Chick’s Tune – Chick Corea
McCoy Tyner
On March 6, 2020, Alfred McCoy Tyner died aged 81. He was musician (piano), composer, bandleader, one of the most recognizable and influential figures in jazz history. He has recorded and performed with many famous musicians including John Coltrane, Art Blakey, Donald Byrd, George Benson, Art Farmer, Lou Donaldson, Benny Golson, Grant Green, Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson, Bobby Hutcherson, Milt Jackson, J.J. Jackson, Blue Mitchell, Hank Mobley, Lee Morgan, David Murray, Julian Priester, Sonny Rollins, Ron Carter, Al Foster, Avery Sharpe, Woody Shaw, Jackie McLean, Cecil McBee, Jack DeJohnette, Wayne Shorter, Sonny Stitt and Stanley Turrentine, As a leader he recorded 74 albums. Tyner was a “NEA Jazz Master” and a five-time “Grammy” winner.
Blue Mitchell: Head Up!
In December 1967, “Blue Note” label released “Heads Up!”, the 14th Blue Mitchell album. It was recorded in November 1967, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, NJ, and was produced by Alfred Lion.
Personnel:
- Blue Mitchell – trumpet
- Burt Collins- trumpet
- Jerry Dodgion- flute, alto saxophone
- Junior Cook- tenor saxophone
- Pepper Adams- baritone saxophone
- Julian Priester- trombone
- McCoy Tyner- piano
- Gene Taylor- bass
- Al Foster- drums
- Jimmy Heath, Melba Liston, Duke Pearson, Don Pickett – arrangements
- Rudy Van Gelder – recording
- Forlenza Venosa Associates – design
- Charles Keddie – cover photography
- Bob Venosa – photography
Track listing:
All tracks by Blue Mitchell except where noted.
- Heads Up! Feet Down! – Jimmy Heath
- Togetherness – Jimmy Heath
- The Folks Who Live On the Hill – Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein II
- Good Humour Man
- Len Sirrah – Melba Liston
- The People in Nassau
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