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Al Foster: Monk’s Bossa

By Carl Medsker
June 3, 2025
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On May 28, 2025,

Al Foster

drums
1944 - 2025

" data-original-title="" title="">Al Foster passed away at the age of 82. He brought strong, imaginative, percussive grooves and swing to bebop, post-bop, modal, funk and fusion for over 60 years—even a little calypso and bossa. A very partial list of the musicians Al Foster performed with includes

Dexter Gordon

saxophone, tenor
1923 - 1990

" data-original-title="" title="">Dexter Gordon,

McCoy Tyner

piano
1938 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">McCoy Tyner,

Sonny Rollins

saxophone
b.1930

" data-original-title="" title="">Sonny Rollins,

Herbie Hancock

piano
b.1940

" data-original-title="" title="">Herbie Hancock,

Bobby Hutcherson

vibraphone
1941 - 2016

" data-original-title="" title="">Bobby Hutcherson,

Joe Henderson

saxophone
1937 - 2001

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Henderson,

Charlie Haden

bass, acoustic
1937 - 2014

" data-original-title="" title="">Charlie Haden,

Kenny Barron

piano
b.1943

" data-original-title="" title="">Kenny Barron,

John Scofield

guitar
b.1951

" data-original-title="" title="">John Scofield and more. Many more.

His discography as a leader is limited, consisting of only eight albums, with most recorded in the 2000s. However, he appeared on nearly a hundred other albums, including thirteen with

Miles Davis

trumpet
1926 - 1991

" data-original-title="" title="">Miles Davis and countless live performances.

Art Taylor

drums
1929 - 1995

" data-original-title="" title="">Art Taylor and

Joe Chambers

drums
b.1942

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Chambers were his early influences, but he evolved throughout his career, noting even as he approached 80 that he was still seeking new sounds and ways to play the drums, rather than repeating himself. No wonder he was such an in-demand first-call drummer.

Here is his composition "Monk's Bossa" from Reflections (2022, Smoke Sessions), his last session as a leader. Joining him are

Chris Potter

saxophone, tenor
b.1971

" data-original-title="" title="">Chris Potter (saxophones),

Nicholas Payton

trumpet
b.1973

" data-original-title="" title="">Nicholas Payton (trumpet) and

Vicente Archer

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Vicente Archer (bass).

Thank you, Mr. Foster.

Contact Carl Medsker on All About Jazz.
Half my career in healthcare, half in IT, passionate jazz fan throughout.

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