Famed Jazz Drummer Al Foster Dies at 82

It’s a sad day for fans of jazz. Famed jazz drummer Al Foster, who worked with the likes of Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock, has passed away at the age of 82.

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Foster’s daughter, Kierra Foster-Ba, broke the heartbreaking news on social media several days ago, accompanied by a video of Foster tearing up the drums just four months prior to his passing. Foster’s partner, Bonnie Rose Steinberg, told NPR that he died from a “serious illness” on May 28.

Remember the Legacy of Al Foster

Al Foster, full name Aloysius Tyrone Foster, was born in Virginia in 1943 and grew up in Harlem. Foster was inspired to get into music from a young age and was a particularly big fan of bebop drummer Max Roach. He began to learn the drums at only 12 years old, and perfected his skills with a drum set given to him by his father.

It didn’t take too long for Foster’s talents to get recognition. His first studio experience was on Blue Mitchell’s famed 1964 album The Thing To Do. Foster would hit a career milestone just several years later when the famed jazz icon Miles Davis happened to see him perform at a New York club. From there, Davis asked Foster to join his band.

Foster would tour with Davis until 1975. Much of his work can be heard on live records like In Concert and Agharta, as well as Dark Magus. Foster also contributed his drumming talents to several of Davis’ studio releases, including On The Corner and Big Fun. You might remember the long-winded and incredible funk jam “Mr. Foster” from the On The Corner sessions, as the track was named after Foster.

In addition to his work with Davis and Hancock, Foster also played in a number of bands, including the backing bands for Sonny Rollins, Joe Henderson, McCoy Tyner, and others.

In the late 1970s, Foster joined the Milestone Jazzstars, a supergroup of jazz icons. Around the mid-1980s, Foster contributed his talents to The State Of The Tenor, Vols. 1 & 2 by Joe Henderson. Foster would continue to compose music and perform up until just mere months before his death. He held a residency at the New York club Smoke, and his last album release was Reflections in 2022.

We wish Al Foster’s family, loved ones, and fans nothing but the best during this difficult time. The jazz world truly lost one of its last great percussionists.

Featured image via Shutterstock

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