A piece of the history of jazz music, since, very young, in early the '70s he joined Miles Davis' famous group, Al Foster is one of today most influential drummers of this music. With his feline but resonant touch, this Afro-American drummer is counted among the most sensitive and modern performers of the last decades. Son of a double-bass player, Aloysius - this is his real birth name - recorded the first time under the Blue Note when he was not even 20, playing with trumpeter Blue Mitchell's quintet. In the renowned "Cellar" he met just legendary Miles, who suddenly hired him profiting from his sticks for historic album such as Big Fun, On the Corner, Get up with It, Dark Magus and the pair Panghea and Agharta, up to '75 when Davis was forced to temporarily retire. When in the '80s the trumpet player could resume back his activity, Foster got back to mark the rhythm cadences on the albums of the return, Man with the Horn, We Want Miles, Star People, Decoy, You're under Arrest, to Amandla, the last recording from jazz black numen and his regular band. Foster's most recent collaborations are with Sonny Rollins, Red Garland, McCoy Tyner and Joe Henderson.
"sheer effervescence…eloquent, rewarding…flexible cohesion" The New York Times |