Alvin Atkinson, Jr., drummer, has been featured in concert with various artists such as Houston Person, Ernie Andrews, Fred Wesley, Maceo Parker, Shirley Scott, Freddie Redd, Roy Hargrove, Ellis Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, James Carter, Cyrus Chestnut, Teddy Edwards, Oscar Brown, Jr., Cecil Bridgewater, Reggie Workman, Nneena Freelon, Jimmy Heath, Johnny O'Neal, Bootsie Barnes, Russell Malone, Steve Wilson, Tom Browne, Essiet Essiet, Barry Harris, Vanessa Rubin and Wycliffe Gordon.
In 2007, Alvin Atkinson and the Sound Merchants toured the Middle East through the Rhythm Road Jazz Ambassadors Tour. Members of the band included Stacy Dillard, Paul Beaudry and Sean Higgins. The group will be a part of the 2008 tour including band members LaKesha Benjamin, Ameen Saleem and Sean Higgins. In 2004, Alvin performed as a part of the Jazz Ambassador-tour of Africa and South America sponsored by the Kennedy Center and the State Department with Cynthia Scott and Deborah Davis. In 2002, Alvin performed as the house drummer for the Emeril Live television show on the Food Network, and he performed at the White House for President George W. Bush.
As an educator, Alvin served as the Visiting Professor of Drum-set Studies at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada during the 2004-2005 school year. In addition to performing, he teaches at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Middle School Jazz Academy, The Bronx Academy and The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York City.
Alvin's New CD "Alvin Atkinson and The Sound Merchants" is available online.To purchase the CDCLICK HERE!!!
