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Al Foster
January 18, 1944
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Al Foster Drummerworld© Goffredo Loertscher



Al Foster Drummerworld
Al Foster
"...for what I wanted in a drummer, Al Foster had all of it." - Miles Davis

Al Foster, master drummer, has been a major innovator in the world of jazz for several decades. As a member of the Miles Davis band for thirteen years, Foster's contribution to Davis' music is articulated by Davis himself in his 1989 autobiography, Miles: The Autobiography, where Davis describes the first time he heard Foster play live in 1972 at the Cellar Club on 95th Street in Manhattan: 'He [Foster] knocked me out because he had such a groove and he would just lay it right in there. That was the kind of thing I was looking for. AI could set it up for everybody else to play off and just keep the groove going forever."

Other artists Foster has performed and recorded with include Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, McCoy Tyner, Wayne Shorter, Bobby Hutcherson, John Scofield, Pat Metheny, Charlie Haden, Randy & Michael Brecker, Bill Evans (the pianoplayer), George Benson, Kenny Drew, Carmen McRae, Stan Getz, Toots Thielemans, Dexter Gordon and Chick Corea.

Over the years, Foster has toured extensively with Herbie Hancock, Sonny Rollins, and Joe Henderson, becoming a major attraction in all three bands as well as an integral part of them.

Respected and admired for his keen sensitivity, Foster is known for his unique ability to listen to and playoff others in an almost telepathic way, responding to them with a style that is at once both charismatic and understated. Al Foster, is a great believer in the purity of the music, a genuine artist who continues to push the boundaries of creativity again and again, devoted to preserving and perpetuating the highest standards in jazz today.

He is a magnificent all-round drummer, and his rhythmic chops are renowned in musical styles ranging from bebop to free form to jazz/rock.
Performance Credits:
Miles Davis, Dave Holland, Joe Lovano, Blue Michell, Junior Cook, Chick Corea, Gene Taylor, Sonny Fortune, McCoy Tyner, Pete Cosey, Regie Lucas, Joe Henderson, Red Garland, Sam Jones, George Adams, Don Pullen, Bill Evans, Branford Marsalis, John Scofield, Darryl Jones, Mino Cinelu, Gil Evans, Sting, Bob Berg, John Mc Laughlin, Randy Brecker, Charett Moffett, Ron Carter, Bobby Enriquez, McCoy Tyner, Ray Brown, Sonny Rollins, Tommy Flanagan, Bob Cranshaw, Lew Soloff, Ray Vega, Jimmy Knepper, Dave Taylor, Christian McBride, Joe Chambers, Craig Handy, Steve Kuhn, Michel Petrucciani, Michael Brecker, Herbie Hancock, Bobby Hutcherson, Kenny Garrett, Geri Allen, Christian McBride, Dexter Gordon ...and many more...




Al Foster Drummerworld



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Al Foster
Joe Henderson Trio - Dave Holland
"Racorda Me"
Jazz à Vienne
1993



Al Foster
Joe Henderson Trio - Dave Holland
Drum Solo
from "Racorda Me"
Jazz à Vienne - 1993



Al Foster
Joe Henderson Trio - Dave Holland
"Take The"A" Train
Jazz à Vienne - 1993



Al Foster
Joe Henderson Trio - Dave Holland
"Relaxing At Camarillo"
Jazz à Vienne - 1993



Al Foster - John Scofield
Joe Lovano - Dave Holland

The Dawn Of Time
Jazz Baltica - 2002



Al Foster - Joe Henderson
George Mraz - Bheki Mseleku

Take The "A" Train
Münchner Klaviersommer - 1994



Al Foster
Miles Davis - Herbie Hancock
Watermelon Man
Paris - 1991



Al Foster
Miles Davis
All Blues
Paris - 1991



Al Foster
Joe Henderson - Randy Brecker
Blue Bossa
Théâtre Antique de Vienne
1997



Al Foster
Joe Henderson - Randy Brecker
Carribean Fire Dance
Théâtre Antique de Vienne
1997



Al Foster
Joe Henderson - Randy Brecker
Drum Solo from "Racorda Me"
Théâtre Antique de Vienne
1997



Al Foster
Joe Henderson Quartet
Drum Solo
Lugano - Switzerland
1994



Al Foster
McCoy Tyner - Charett Moffett

Drum Solo
Jazzfestival Vienne 2000


Al Foster
McCoy Tyner - Charett Moffett

Passion Dance
Jazzfestival Vienne 2000





Al Foster Drummerworld Al Foster - Miles Davis



Al Foster Drummerworld



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Al Foster - John Scofield - Joe Lovano - Dave Holland
The Dawn Of Time
Jazz Baltica - 2002


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Al Foster Drummerworld



Al Foster Drummerworld



Al Foster Drummerworld






Al Foster Drummerworld



Al Foster Drummerworld



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Al Foster
Joe Henderson Quartet - George Mraz, Bheki Mseleku
Drum Solo
Festival de Jazz - Lugano - Switzerland - 1994


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Al Foster Drummerworld



Al Foster Drummerworld
Miles Davis on Al Foster:
"I replaced Jack DeJohnette on the drums with Al Foster who I first heard at the cellar club on 95th street Manhattan. He knocked me out 'cause he had such a groove, and he would just clay it right in there. That was the kind of thing I was looking for. Al could set it up for everybody else to play off and keep the groove going forever, for what I wanted in a drummer - Al Foster had it all."




Al Foster Drummerworld



Drummerworld Video
Al Foster
Joe Henderson Trio - Dave Holland
Drum Solo from "Racorda Me"
Jazz à Vienne - Théâtre Antique de Vienne - 1993


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Al Foster Drummerworld


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Al Foster
McCoy Tyner - Charett Moffett
Drum Solo
Jazzfestival Vienne 2000


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Al Foster Drummerworld



Al Foster Drummerworld



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Al Foster
Joe Henderson - Randy Brecker - Conrad Herwig - George Mraz
Carribean Fire Dance
Jazz à Vienne - Théâtre Antique de Vienne - 1997


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Al Foster Drummerworld



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Al Foster - Joe Lovano - John Scofield - Dave Holland
The Winding Way
Jazz Baltica - Salzau - Germany - 2002





Al Foster Drummerworld © James Startt



Al Foster DrummerworldMasters Place



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Al Foster
McCoy Tyner - Charett Moffett
Passion Dance
Jazzfestival Vienne 2000


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Al Foster Drummerworld



Al Foster Drummerworld © Jos J Knaepen



Al Foster Drummerworld



Al Foster DrummerworldDave Holland - Al Foster - Miles Davis



Al Foster Drummerworld © Marek Lazarski


Drummerworld Video
Al Foster
Joe Henderson - Randy Brecker - Conrad Herwig - George Mraz
Drum Solo from "Racorda Me"
Jazz à Vienne - Théâtre Antique de Vienne - 1997


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Al Foster Drummerworld



Al Foster Drummerworld © Marek Lazarski



Al Foster Drummerworld thanks for your visit!






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