Jazz Memorial for Al Foster

On September 22nd, over 300 people gathered at Saint Peter’s Church to celebrate the life and legacy of the legendary jazz drummer Al Foster. The sanctuary was filled with music, memory, and gratitude as generations of musicians, family members, and admirers came together to honor a man whose rhythms shaped modern jazz.

The room was inhabited by jazz pioneers and luminaries such as Ron Carter, Buster Williams, Jabali Billy Hart, and many more—artists whose own careers were intertwined with Foster’s through decades of performance, collaboration, and friendship. Together, they reflected on a life devoted not only to music but also to integrity, joy, and creative generosity.

(Ed Satterwhite)

Al Foster’s career was extraordinary in both breadth and depth. Known for his remarkable sensitivity and swing, he played with legends across eras—from Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, and Joe Henderson to younger artists who saw in him a living bridge to jazz’s golden age. His drumming was both grounded and exploratory, a rare balance that made him a sought-after collaborator for over five decades.

The memorial at Saint Peter’s, co-sponsored by the Jazz Foundation of America, was both reverent and jubilant. The music spoke louder than words: performances, tributes, and stories captured the humor, humility, and humanity that made Al Foster so beloved. Musicians who once shared the bandstand with him played in his honor, their sound carrying the pulse of his unmistakable touch.

As the evening closed, one felt the deep truth that Al Foster’s rhythm continues—alive in every player he inspired, every audience he moved, and every beat that still echoes in the heart of the jazz community.

At Saint Peter’s, where so many greats have been remembered through the years, this gathering was not only a farewell but a profound reminder: the music lives on because of people like Al Foster.