mikeweil Posted July 27, 2003 Report Posted July 27, 2003 (edited) Tonight I had the pleasure to listen to master drummer Al Foster's quartet, with Eli Degibri on soprano and tenor saxes, Kevin Hayes on piano and Doug Weiss on bass. Hayes, Weiss and Foster are a helluva rhythm section. Did anybody hear them in the US? This is at least their third European tour, and their two CDs are on European labels as well: This CD has Dave Kikowski playing piano. Seems to me like another case of an American jazz master without a record contract ... Although it's Potter's CD, it's Al's band ..... Edited July 28, 2003 by mikeweil Quote
bertrand Posted July 28, 2003 Report Posted July 28, 2003 Haven't heard the 4tet, but Al played his ass off last Tuesday with McCoy Tyner at the University of Maryland. Bertrand. Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted July 28, 2003 Report Posted July 28, 2003 At least based on what I've heard in recordings, Al can nearly do no wrong. Quote
Free For All Posted July 28, 2003 Report Posted July 28, 2003 Some great Al Foster can be found on Dave Liebman's "Pendulum". I don't think it's ever been out on CD yet, at least in the US. It burns! A great version of "Footprints" with a long Al Foster solo that will impress you even if you don't normally like drum solos. W/Randy Brecker, Richie Beirach, I think Frank Tusa and some great 70's looking attire on the album photos. Quote
Free For All Posted July 28, 2003 Report Posted July 28, 2003 I also had the opportunity to see Al with Ron Carter and Joe Henderson (around the time of those "State of the Tenor" sides- mid 80's) at the Vanguard. Got there early enough to sit up front- it was so good we went back the next night. Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted July 28, 2003 Report Posted July 28, 2003 I also heard Al, with Joe and George Mraz (if I remember right), as a trio - right here in Kansas City about 5 years ago. Stunning, and if they had been playing again the next night, I sure as hell would have been there again too!!! Quote
Free For All Posted July 28, 2003 Report Posted July 28, 2003 Al Foster is amazingly versatile- just think about the contrast between the Joe trios and his playing on something like "We Want Miles"! Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted July 28, 2003 Report Posted July 28, 2003 Al is one of those guys, like Dave Holland - who's name on a CD is guarenteed to get me to give it a second look, and probably get me to at least give it a test-spin -- even if I've never heard of any other cat on the disc. Maybe Al Foster isn't "the" greatest drummer alive today, but I've never heard a recording he was on, where he wasn't one of the best guys on the date - no matter who was on it, even huge names. Quote
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