Al Foster Quintet at Smoke Jazz & Supper Club

Al Foster Quintet
81st Birthday Celebration
Smoke Jazz & Supper Club
January 27, 2024

Hello, my name is Chris DeRosa and this is what I heard...

Smoke is a great venue to hear timeless jazz. Established in 1999 and located on Manhattan's Upper West Side, the sound and layout make it a highly enjoyable venue to catch some of New York's finest. And as expected, tonight's show did not disappoint.

On this special night, the band and the audience celebrated drummer Al Foster's 81st birthday (he was born on January 18, 1944). In case you're unfamiliar with Foster he has played with Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon, McCoy Tyner, Horace Silver, and Miles Davis who he joined after Jack DeJohnette left in 1972. Foster continued to work with Miles and was one of the few people to have been in contact with Davis during his retirement from 1975 to 1980. Foster also played on Davis' 1981 comeback album The Man with the Horn, and was the only musician to play in Davis' band both before, and after, his retirement.

Joining Foster for his birthday concert (which ran four nights) were trumpeter Nicholas Payton, bassist Vicente Archer, tenor saxophonist Chris Potter and pianist/musical director Kevin Hays. An impressive lineup for any occasion but surely a special treat for Foster's birthday celebration.

The set kicked off with the Thelonious Monk composition "Rhythm-A-Ning." Foster seemed right at home laying down solid time to beautifully support the rhythmic soloing by Payton. In contrast, the smoother melodic lines by Potter were in good hands with the master. The moments where Foster's drumming really shined, with his lifetime of experience so palpable, was behind the spacious and thoughtful playing of pianist Hays. His choices in sound and rhythm created a very nice albeit softer side to this opening number. The set continued with "Beat," a Hays original and lyrical ballad interpreted wonderfully by the ensemble which was brought to a high point during Foster's mallet solo over Hays' vamp.

Next up was "Six" by Payton. This tune was originally a heavy funk composition but the band's rendition tonight brought a New Orleans swing to it that was a good vehicle to showcase Payton's command of his instrument. This was followed by Foster's "Monk's Bossa" that acted as a springboard for Potter's wonderful melodies and rich tone. The set's last full number was the joyful Sonny Rollins composition "Pent-Up House." The interplay between Payton and Potter was in full bloom here, with each player speaking in both a harmonious and dissonant language that kept the room bouncing to the beat. All the while Archer and Foster laid down the deepest pocket which lit up the room. As if such playing wasn't enough, a kind patron carried in a custom made birthday cake with a mini replica of Foster's drum kit on it while the band swung "Happy Birthday" for the honoree. All in all a very nice set that cleared up any doubt that this now 81-year-old drummer still has what it takes.