Alyn was born and raised in Ayr, Scotland into a house filled with music thanks to his dad, Jim, a local pianist and theatre MD. He began playing drums at age 13 and after studying with a few local teachers and performing with various school and regional big bands/ensembles he won an International Scholarship to study at the famous Berklee College of Music at age 16.
After leaving school he decided to study at Strathclyde University in Glasgow where he graduated with a BA(Hons) degree in 'Applied Music'. A regular on the Scottish jazz scene he has performed with many artists of both national and international standing. They include Tommy Smith, Jim Mullen, Lee Konitz, Courtney Pine, Bheki Mseleku, Paul Towndrow, Claire Martin, Geoffrey Keezer, Annie Ross (Lambert, Hendricks & Ross), Frank Gambale, Geoff Gascoigne, Clare Teal, Brian Kellock, Scott Hamilton, Bruce Barth, Steve Hamilton, Madaleine Eastman, Ethan Iverson, Leo Blanco,Warren Vaché, David Newton, Carol Kidd, Bruce Adams,Damon Brown, Tim Garland, Keith Tippet.
Alyn is the drummer with the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, a position he has held for the past 4 years. In November 2004 through jazz saxophonist Tommy Smiths recommendation, Alyn was invited to deputise for drummer Gary Novak (Chick Corea, Alannis Morrisette) in Joe Lockes Four Walls of Freedom band which featured Tommy Smith and Ed Howard (Shirley Horn, Roy Haynes) where he played for a weeks residency at Ronnie Scotts in London. He is also featured on Tommy Smith latest album - Forbidden Fruit.
As well as enjoying playing in the jazz genre, Alyn has a deep love for many other styles of music including, Rock,Funk,R+B and Folk & for the past 5 years he has recorded and toured all over Europe and America with top celtic band Wolfstone. He is also featured on many independent and major albums, including the Isobel Campbell (Belle & Sebastian) and Mark Lanagan (Queen's of the Stone Age) on their 2006 Mercury Prize nominated album Ballad of the Broken Seas and her follow up album 'Sunday at Devil Dirt'. He's recently recorded an album with singer/songwriter Gareth Davies Jones and the amazing jazz vocalist Carol Kidd - Dreamsville on Linn Records and is now currently on tour in Europe with Isobel, promoting her new album. He has also performed with Hue & Cry, Marti Pellow (Wet Wet Wet), Justin Currie (Del Amitri) & singer/songwriter - Amy McDonald.
He has just finished writing & producing his own first solo album which is due out in early 2009 along with a busy 'Tune-Up' tour planned. It features his regular trio - Ross Hamilton (bass) & David Dunsmuir (gtr) as well as special guests - Tommy Smith (tnr sax), Jason Rebello (pno), Paul Towndrow (alto/sop sax), Ryan Quigley (trumpet) & Maureen McMullan (vox).
"Alyn plays like a Demon and an Angel; if he ends up in Hell or Heaven his extraordinary talent will suit any environment - he is a chameleon."
"Alyn Cosker represents the best of the new generation of drummers currently on the scene. He has the intellect to negotiate very difficult music, while at the same time maintaining an organic "earthiness" in his playing. I have called him to tour with my quartet, 4 Walls of Freedom, and would do so again without reservation. He's smokin'!"
w Tommy Smith @ Ronnie Scotts (Jason Rebello - Piano, Michael Jansich - Bass)
w Roy Hargrove
Press Reviews
"Alyn Cosker plays with a confidence and open-mindedness that belies his youth"
Review of Tommy Smith's 'Forbidden Fruit' (www.allaboutjazz.com)
"The in demand Cosker is quickly establishing a big reputation for himself and on the evidence of this recording its easy to see why."
Review of Paul Towndrow's 'Colours' (www.24dash.com)
"drummer Alyn Cosker fulfilling his role as master of the controlled explosion"
The Herald, Jun '06
"..underlined by Cosker's extraordinary sense of detail and unstoppable propulsion"
The Herald, Aug '06
w Courtney Pine (Alyn Cosker - Drums, Tommy Smith - Tenor Sax, Bheki Mseleku- Piano, Mike Hodgson - Upright bass. Edinburgh Jazz Festival, Queen's Hall 2007)
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Hey man, just a wee note to say absolutely love the album! had it on in the car constantly since i got it. Great tunes, melodically and rhythmically interesting and great playing as always from everyone on the CD. Davie is fantastic, great to hear him rip it up and Ross and yourself are really blistering. It's a shame to pick a fave as they are all superb but I really love the blues, Twitter and Bisted-what a tune!. All the best and I wish you all the success in the world with the album. Cheers, G.
Alyn - your playing is just brilliant. I'm blown away - not only from the album but I heard the live stuff from the recent rehearsal and it's just amazing. Well done. You really are utterly fantastic! Will see you soon, Kerry x
hey alyn, just to let you know i'll be playing in the classic grand with my 7 piece band on thursday! tickets are a fiver and available at door. doors open at half 7. hope to see you there :)
What can i say ...... Remember back in the day when we'd get a new Cd of some mega player and sit in and have a few beers listening to it .... " play that one again " " ouf ya bas " " that's unreal " "I wanna play like that ! ". Well i'm pretty sure anyone who's listening now will be thinking that !! I know i sure am . Pure class , Stellar playing and Beautiful writing !! . Your right up there man.... RIGHT UP !! .
North Atlantic Oscillation's "Hollywood Has Ended", from the forthcoming album Grappling Hooks, is featured in this month's Police Box compilation from TenTracks. It's here:
In case you haven't heard, TenTracks is a new music delivery service where you can buy exclusive 10-track compilations for £1, i.e. a mere 10p per track.
This month NAO are in the illustrious company of the excellent Found, Orkestra Del Sol, Fence Collective luminaries James Yorkston and King Creosote and exactly 5 others. Once again, that's £1 for ALL TEN TRACKS. Not bad, really.
Just caught your jazz house session on the iplayer there....awesome!!! Loved everything about it. The sound was special (loved the drum sound) and the playing was specialer (if that's not already a word I'm claiming it) Can't wait to catch it live!!
If you get a minute could you check out www.therecordjournal.co.uk... we'd greatly appreciate it! Interview with You Me At Six, Funeral For A Friend and many more.... coming up next week: People in Planes, Go Audio, Howling Bells and The Rasmus... xx
I say boy...I Say BOY! Those drums soundin mighty fine on dat dere whisky chune. (second line always brings out the foghorn leghorn in me) Diggin those quarter bombs....ra ta ta ta Taht....BOOOMSH!!
Hey man, fantastic performance last night! great tunes, great band and you were totally driving the whole band, just like BR. Really loved it! All the best, G.
"At last a follow up to Janette Mason's sparkling debut as leader. Alien Left Hand ....was well worth the wait…” Production **** Performance**** -- BBC Music Magazine
“…an album fizzing with fresh ideas and delights, an exhilarating musical journey .. with brilliantly original writing and inspired playing…” -- Helen Mayhew
"Every track from the rhythmic ‘NY Cab Ride’ and restless ‘4 Wheel Drive’ to the brooding ‘Mae’s Song’ has a terrific hook but it’s the way Mason switches tempo and moods that makes ALH great fun. " -- Diva Magazine
Why, thank-you, Alyn. A nifty, very broad-range of styles and riffs you have in your rucksack, there. Be good to hear you play more second-line drum patterns. Remember: Zigaboo Modeliste is watching you. Take it easy, but take it anyway, JBiA* :)
Glad you liked it ! Album will prob be ready by 2013 in which time music trends will have changed dramatically and the "Bowl Cut" will be back in Fashion ......... YAAAAAAAAAASSSSSS !!
