Born into a musical family, Alyn began playing drums at 13. At 16 he won a scolarship to Berklee College of Music. After leaving school he studied music at Strathclyde University in Glasgow;gaining an honours 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, Paul Towndrow, Claire Martin, Clare Teal, Brian Kellock, Scott Hamilton, Bruce Barth, Steve Hamilton, Madaleine Eastman, Ethan Iverson, Frank Gambale,Leo Blanco,Warren Vaché, David Newton, Carol Kidd, Bruce Adams,Damon Brown, Geoffrey Keezer, Tim Garland, Keith Tippet.
Aswell 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 three years he has recorded and toured all over Europe and America with top celtic band Wolfstone.
In November 2004 through 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. Alyn also currently performs with the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra and has recently recorded with Tommy Smith on his latest critically acclaimed album Forbidden Fruit.
"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."
Tommy Smith
"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'!"
Joe Locke
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 Ross Hamilton - 'Out of your league'
w Ross Hamilton - 'Treat you bad'
'Grannies United'
