In Memoriam: Al Foster, 1943–2025

In Memoriam: Al Foster, 1943–2025 By Michael J. WestMay. 29, 2025 Foster was truly a drummer to the stars, including Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins and Joe Henderson. Al Foster, a drummer regarded for his fluency across the bebop, post-bop and funk/fusion lineages of jazz, died May 28 in New York City. He was 82. His death was announced by his daughter, Kierra Denise Foster Ba, in a post on Facebook. Cause of death was not disclosed. Active in jazz since the mid-1960s, Foster was nonetheless probably best known for his on-and-off collaboration with Miles Davis in the ’70s and ’80s....