Al Foster, the jazz drummer who acted in innovative bands with Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock and Sonny Rollins, has died. He was 82 years old.
Foster's companion, Bonnie Rose Steinberg, told NPR in a statement that Foster died “for a serious illness” at home in New York City. Foster's daughter, Kierra Foster-BA, confirmed death at an Instagram post.
The relentlessly creative and adaptable percussion work of Foster covered times and genres within jazz, driving the elegant fusion groups and fusion bookus.
Davis wrote in his memoirs “Miles: The Autobiography” That Foster battery “left me because I had a rhythm and he would simply put it right there … when he could prepare he, so that everyone else would play and then could keep the pace forever … for what he wanted in a drummer, he had everything to Foster.”
Foster played in Davis's study album “Big Fun” And his live albums “Dark Magus“ and “Agharta.” Davis, in turn, paid tribute to the agile brilliance of Foster with the Funk single “Mr. Foster”, recorded during his sessions for the 1972 album “On the corner.”
Aloysius Tyrone Foster was born in 1943 in Richmond, Virginia, but grew up in Harlem in a family of musicians. First inspired by drummer Max Roach, his career led him to stages and studies with Sonny Rollins saxophonists (a fruitful association that would cover decades) and Joe Henderson, who led Foster in the Seminal Double Live album “The State of the Tenor, vols. 1 and 2.”. Rollins said he dedicated himself to similar childhood and Foster for his song “Harlem Boys.”
Foster played in groups with jazz titans such as Art Pepper, McCoy Tyner and Horace Silver, among many others. In 1978, he joined the Jazzstars of Supergroups Milestones with Tyner, Rollins and Ron Carter, and made his debut as the band leader that same year with “Roots Mixed”.”
Later in his career, he collaborated with guitarist John Scofield, saxophonist Joe Lovano and bass player Dave Holland in the Scolohofo group. He frequented the Smoke of the Upper West Side club, whose internal seal launched its two final albums, including “reflections” of 2022 “.“
Foster is survived by four daughters, Michelle, Kierra, Monique and Simone, and six grandchildren. His son Brandyn died in 2018.
