For the Love of Al Foster

For the Love of Al at St. Peter’s Church honored Al Foster. The evening was produced by Steve Jordan with the Jazz Foundation of America. Executive Director Joe Petrucelli and Sheila Anderson of WBGO served as emcees for the ceremony, and many JFA staff members were present, whose work sustains jazz and the musicians who make it. Filmmaker Dan DeSouza premiered a short film on Al’s career with contributions from Jordan Walker-Pearlman and Paul Stache, the owner of Smoke Jazz Club and the Smoke Sessions label. Bonnie Rose Steinberg, whose idea brought Al’s longtime collaborators together with support from Steve Jordan, sat with family in the front pew, joined by Miles’s family, Vince Wilburn Jr., and upright bass legend Ron Carter and his wife. All but two pieces were Al’s compositions, played by longtime members of his group alongside visiting giants making musical farewells. His music lifted the room and each piece carried his story. One tender moment came when Jabali Billy Hart smiled from his chair as the other drummers played, a scene that recalled the days when Max Roach watched over his progress. Hart then took the stool and built a blazing solo that paid homage to Roach’s “Big Sid,” and the room rose to its feet. The drum chair then moved to Lenny White, Steve Jordan, Terri Lyne Carrington, Bill Stewart, Nasheet Waits, and Nicko Shevelov. The foundation on bass came from Buster Williams, Doug Weiss, and Vicente Archer, with John Scofield on guitar. At the piano were Adam Birnbaum, Kevin Hays, Aaron Goldberg, and Dave Kikoski. The horns were Eddie Allen, Chris Potter, Tim Ries, and Nicholas Payton, with a cameo appearance by Jeremy Pelt on trumpet. Video tributes and testimonials included a short and warm message from Randy Brecker, along with tributes from Mike Stern and Marcus Miller. Pat Metheny and Gary Bartz sent a deeply personal message. The celebration drew to a close with Miles Davis’s “Jean Pierre” from We Want Miles, one of Al Foster’s legendary performances, featuring double drums from Lenny White and Steve Jordan, whose credits include recent work with the Rolling Stones. “Jean Pierre” is also my middle name, given in memory of my grandfather. The notes and the hypnotic groove hung in the air as they rose toward heaven, for the love of Al, eternally.