Alvin Atkinson

A son of North Carolina, Alvin Atkinson now lives in New York City when he isn’t traveling the globe as a Jazz Ambassador, drummer, band leader, and Jazz educator. Alvin’s earliest music was gospel, learned in his family’s church, that is, until he heard a Stan Getz and Elvin Jones album, and was hooked on Jazz. He was fortunate to have the encouragement of the Marsalis brothers, putting him on a track that has led to Lincoln Center, the Drummers Wall of fame in Vail, Colorado, the White House and Jazz Ambassadors’ tours all over the world. He balances performing and touring with his group, The Sound Merchants, with teaching Jazz Language and Rhythm Studies at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Middle School Jazz Academy. We are pleased to have Alvin join us for his first time at the NCJF.