Composer

Alan has composed for big bands, heavy metal trios, dance groups, latin jazz groups, jazz vocalists, pop bands and chamber jazz projects. More recently he’s ventured into composing for synchronization. The diversity of his compositions is rooted in the varied nature of his performance career with numerous bands in multiple genres: funk, folk rock, heavy metal, klezmer, afro-cuban, country swing, contemporary big bands and traditional and experimental jazz groups

Xploritoreum

Alan started this adventurous instrumental group in Asheville as both an outlet for his jazz-based compositions and for his primal, improvisational based drumming. Typically they are a quintet w/ sax/guitar/piano/bass and drums. Occasionally they are a quartet w/ violin, piano, bass and drums.

Drummer and Teacher

Alan has recently retired from full time teaching and is focused on building a small teaching practice while also putting out his video series,“the a,b,c’s of jazz drumming” which encapsulates a teachnique he’s refined over over 40 years of teaching to help students gain soloing and comping/groove language.

He’s taught all levels and ages at the following institutions: Berklee College of Music (Boston, MA), Cal State University East Bay (Hayward, CA), University of North Carolina School of the Arts (Winston-Salem, NC),California Jazz Conservatory (Berkeley, CA), MonterreyJazz Festival Summer Camp (Monterrey, CA),The Jazzschool (Berkeley, CA), Guitar Center (Asheville,NC), Jazzcamp WEST (LaHonda, CA)

Here’s a list of artists and productions Alan has recorded and/or performed with.