Latest news with #drummer
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Al Foster, Virtuoso Jazz Drummer to Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock, Dies at 82
Al Foster, 1988 () Al Foster, the jazz drummer who played in bands led by Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, Herbie Hancock, among others, has died. Foster's daughter Kierra Foster-Ba shared the news on Instagram and his longtime partner, Bonnie Rose Steinberg, told NPR that he died 'from a serious illness.' He was 82. Born in 1943 in Richmond, Virginia, Aloysius Tyrone Foster grew up in Harlem, the second oldest of five siblings. His first musical idol was bebop drummer Max Roach, whose 1955 recording of 'Cherokee' inspired a 12-year-old Foster to begin practicing every day on the drum kit his father had previously gifted him. The budding musician got his first experience working as a studio musician on Blue Mitchell's 1964 album The Thing to Do, which also featured a young Chick Corea. Foster's big break, however, arrived a few years later, when Miles Davis saw him perform at a jazz club on New York's Upper West Side and recruited the drummer to join his band. Foster toured with Davis until the latter's temporary retirement in 1975, and his work can be heard on live albums such as In Concert, Agharta, and Dark Magus. He also played on the Davis several studio LPs On the Corner and Big Fun (1974). The extended jazz-funk jam 'Mr. Foster,' recorded during the On the Corner sessions, was named in his honor. Saxophonist Sonny Rollins had previously fired Foster from his band after their first gig together in 1968, but would bring him on tour in Europe a decade later, and even claimed that 'Harlem Boys,' from his 1979 album Don't Ask, was inspired by the two musicians' similar upbringings. Throughout the late '70s and '80s, Foster also backed up pianists Hancock, McCoy Tyner, and Horace Silver. In 1978, he became one of four members in the Milestones Jazzstars—a label-made supergroup that also featured Rollins, Tyner, and bassist Ron Carter—and in 1985, both he and Carter lent their talents to saxophone virtuoso Joe Henderson's The State of the Tenor, Vols. 1 & 2. Foster continued composing and performing until just months before his death, holding a longstanding residency at the Upper West Side club Smoke and sharing his last album, Reflections, in 2022. In 1989's Miles: The Autobiography, co-written with Quincy Troupe, Davis wrote that 'Al could set shit up for everybody else to play off and then he could keep the groove going forever…for what I wanted in a drummer, Al Foster had it all.' Originally Appeared on Pitchfork
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Shreveport drummer Hoffman returning as a member of Primus
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — John Hoffman is proof that you can go home again. The Shreveport drummer is returning home now as the drummer for the legendary rock band Primus. Shreveport drummer prepares for dream audition Formed in 1984, Primus has long been a staple of the rock scene. Famous for songs like 'My Name Is Mud' and 'Jerry Was a Racecar Driver,' Primus found their own niche and multiple Grammy Award nominations to go with it. It was hard at times, but not metal and clearly not grunge. Bassist/vocalist Les Claypool described the band's music as 'psychedelic polka.' The band was so unique that, for a time, its genre title was simply 'Primus.' In October 2024, Primus drummer Tim 'Herb' Alexander abruptly left the band, stating he 'lost his passion for playing,' according to Stereogum. The band began searching for a new drummer with a national search via YouTube submissions. Over 6,200 drummers auditioned. Those auditionees were whittled down to two: Gergo Borlai and Shreveport's John Hoffman, with Hoffman getting the nod. More Entertainment news Hoffman is primarily known in the Shreveport music scene for his over 10-year stint as the drummer for local band Dirtfoot. Now, he returns as the drummer for one of the most influential bands of the late 1980s and early 1990s, being cited as an influence for bands like Korn, the Deftones, and Incubus. Hoffman already got a taste of life on the road with Primus, opening for A Perfect Circle since April 24. That tour concludes on June 7. The band then starts their first headlining tour with Hoffman on the drum kit on July 5, with a return home on July 29 at the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
New York Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Al Foster, Master of the Jazz Drums, Is Dead at 82
Al Foster, a drummer who worked with some of the most illustrious names in jazz across a career spanning more than six decades, leaving his distinctive stamp on important recordings by Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, Joe Henderson and many others, died on Wednesday at his apartment in Manhattan. He was 82. His daughter Kierra Foster-Ba announced the death on social media but did not specify a cause. Mr. Foster came up emulating great bebop percussionists like Max Roach, but his most high-profile early gig came with Mr. Davis, who hired him in 1972, when he was refining an aggressive, funk-informed sound. Mr. Foster's springy backbeats firmly anchored the band's sprawling psychedelic jams. In 'Miles: The Autobiography,' written with Quincy Troupe and published in 1989, Mr. Davis praised Mr. Foster's ability to 'keep the groove going forever.' Mr. Foster also excelled in a more conventional jazz mode, lending an alert, conversational swing to bands led by the saxophonists Mr. Henderson and Mr. Rollins and the pianists Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner and Tommy Flanagan. 'What he was doing was reminiscent of some of the great drummers of our period,' Mr. Rollins said of Mr. Foster in a phone interview, citing foundational figures like Art Blakey and Max Roach. 'He always had that feeling about him, those great feelings of those people. And that's why I could never be disappointed playing with Al Foster. He was always playing something which I related to.' Mr. Foster often framed his long career as a fulfillment of his early ambitions. 'I've been so blessed because I've played with everybody I fell in love with when I was a young teenager,' he told the website of Jazz Forum, a club in Tarrytown, N.Y. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Daily Mail
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Zak Starkey looks downcast as he's seen for the first time since being sacked as drummer of The Who AGAIN
Zak Starkey looked downcast as he was seen for first time since being sacked as drummer for The Who for the second time. The son of Ringo Starr, 59, was fired from the band last week, just one month after he was sacked then quickly reinstated. He looked unhappy as he strolled through Manchester BBC Breakfast Studios in Manchester after the news broke, sporting a black parka jacket and tartan trousers. Guitarist Pete Townshend took to Instagram last week to announce that Zak, the Who's drummer since 1996, was no longer part of the band. But Zak quickly took to his own social media to claim that his departure was not a mutual decision and that he was fired from the band. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Zak's sacking comes just months ahead of the legendary bands farewell tour across North America and Pete revealed Scott Devours will replace him on drums. The statement from Pete read: 'After many years of great work on drums from Zak the time has come for a change. A poignant time. Zak has lots of new projects in hand and I wish him the best.' In a second post, Pete and Roger Daltrey added: 'The Who are heading for retirement, whereas Zak is 20yrs younger and has a great future with his new band and other exciting projects. 'He needs to devote all his energy into making it all a success. We both wish him all the luck in the world. 'Scott Devours – Who fans will know him from Roger's solo shows – will be replacing Zak. We hope all our fans will welcome him. Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey'. Resharing The Who's post, Zak hit back: 'I was fired two weeks after reinstatement and asked to make a statement saying I had quit the who to pursue my other musical endevours this would be a lie. 'I love the who and would never had quit. So I didn't make the statement ….quitting The Who would also have let down the countless amazing people who stood up for me (thank you all a million times over and more) thru the weeks of mayhem of me going 'in an out an in an out an in an out like a bleedin squeezebox x. 'To clarify "other projects" yes I do have other projects and always have. The Who have been sporadic or minimalist in touring most years apart from a two extensive tours in 2000 and 2006/7.' Zak continued to list his other previous projects before adding: 'Releasing singles but not touring cos members are so busy. None of this has ever interfered with The Who and was never a problem for them. 'The lie is or would have been that I quit The Who- I didn't. I love the who and everyone in it.' But on Monday, Zak again took to his Instagram account to share that his version of events had been contradicted yet again after a phonecall with The Who singer-guitarist Roger. Zak said Roger told him he hadn't actually been fired and instead 'retired to work on his own projects'. He wrote: 'NOISE&CONFUSION!!!! I had a great phone chat with Roger at the end of last week which truly confused both of us!!! 'Rog said I hadn't been 'fired'…I had been 'retired' to work n my own projects. I explained to Rog that I have just spent nearly 8 weeks at my studio in Jamaica completing these projects, that my group Mantra Of The Cosmos was releasing one single at the beginning of June and after that had run its course ( usually 5/6 weeks ) I was completely available for the foreseeable future…. Zak's sacking comes just months ahead of the legendary bands farewell tour across North America and Pete revealed Scott Devours will replace him on drums 'Rog said "Oh!" and we kind of left it there- On good terms and great friends as we have always been. 'Gotta love these guys. As my mum used to say "The mind boggles!!!" XXX.' It comes weeks after The Who shared the shock news that they will be retiring from touring after 60 years, following a final run of shows in the US later this year.
Daily Mail
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Leo Sayer leads the tributes after shock death of legendary New Zealand musician who performed with Dusty Springfield and The Temptations
Legendary New Zealand musician Frank Gibson Jr. died on Wednesday aged 79. The Auckland-based drummer was born in 1946 to popular NZ musician Frank Gibson Sr. and was one of the country's most celebrated performers. His death was confirmed on social media by singer Leo Sayer, a close friend. 'A marvellous man, an incredible player. The years we worked and toured together, gigs played all over the world, come back to me now in wonderful flashbacks,' Leo began. 'We talked jazz endlessly, boring the pants off most of the other guys in the band. My sincerest condolences.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. The beloved musician performed with some of the world's most renowned artists, including Sayer, Elton John, Dusty Springfield and The Temptations. He moved to the UK in 1977 to advance his musical career and became a sought-after session and touring musician who shared the stage with world-famous names. Gibson also performed with many esteemed NZ musicians, including John Hanlon, Malcolm McNeill, Alan Broadbent and Dave MacRae. His daughter Becky shared a heartfelt tribute to her father on social media. 'Yesterday I lost my incredible father. A drumming virtuoso, he had an incredible near 70 year career,' she began. 'He is featured on over 250 records, playing alongside Elton John, Brian May, Rick Wakeman of Yes, the Walker Brothers and even David Hasselhoff. 'But more than a list of names and accomplishments, he leaves behind a legacy of art and kindness. 'He overcame so much in his life to be the sweet, sensitive man I will always remember him as.' Other career highlights include performing at the opening ceremony of the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland. His musical journey began at the age of eight with a drum duet at the Auckland Town Hall alongside his renowned father. He played in local NZ jazz bands as a teenager, paving the way for a lifelong career in music. Gibson co-founded a jazz-fusion band called Dr Tree in 1971, and later formed Space Case in the early 80s, focusing on jazz funk across three studio albums. The energetic performer also played drums for the soundtrack of the 1982 NZ action movie Battletruck, starring Police Rescue actor Marshall Napier. He is survived by his two children Becky and Frank III.
