Drummerworld left arrow drummer page gallery
Alvin Queen
August 16, 1950
next drummer Drummerworld
Alvin Queen Drummerworld© Goffredo Loertscher



Alvin Queen Drummerworld
Alvin Queen
Alvin Leroy Queen was born in New York on August 16, 1950. He started playing drums when he was eight years old: he would shine shoes to pay for drum lessons. Still on his early 'teens, he would lie about his age to get into the Jazz clubs, and received on stage tuition by Art Blakey, Philly Joe Jones, Art Taylor or Elvin Jones. Alvin met John Coltrane when he was twelve, and Horace Silver when he was fourteen, and was already enough of a player to be allowed to sit in with them.

In 1968 he started working with Horace Silver, and the next year he became a regular member of the George Benson Quartet, appearing on the Johnny Carson Show. In 1969 Alvin worked with Stanley Turrentine, and was featured on several TV shows.

In November 1970, trumpet star Charles Tolliver hired Alvin for his first European tour. Alvin stayed with Tolliver on and off for about eight years: during this period he also worked with Milt Jackson, Leon Thomas, Pharoah Sanders and Wild Bill Davis. By 1979, Alvin decided to settle in Europe, and moved to Geneva, Switzerland, where he has been residing for the last twenty years.

In 1982 Alvin founded his own record company, Nilva Records, and for the next decade produced records for Bill Saxton, John Collins, Junior Mance, Ronnie Mathews, Ray Drummond, John Hicks and may others.

During the eighties, and until his untimely death, Alvin was a member of the Kenny Drew Trio, which also featured the Danish bassist Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen. This trio became immensely popular both in Japan and Europe, recording several CD's and VT’s for the Japanese label Alpha Records.

Alvin also worked and recorded through the early nineties with tenor saxophone stars such as George Coleman, Johnny Griffin or Bennie Wallace. One of the most versatile drummers in the world of Jazz, Alvin was equally at ease playing with veterans of the Swing Era, such as Red Richards, Wild Bill Davis or Harry Sweets Edison.

In the last decade, Alvin has remained one of the most in demand freelance drummers in the world of Jazz: he can be found working in Tokio, New York and Barcelona in within the same week, and the list of musicians he has worked with would easily fill up this page.

A lot of the young players, like Roy Hargrove, Jesse Davis or Russell Malone have been very interested in working with Alvin, who represents a link between the great masters of the fifties and sixties and the world of contemporary Jazz.

--

A crisp, powerful, and swinging drummer, Alvin Queen hasn't recorded as often as his talents merit, but what he's done is consistently engaging and demanding. Queen worked with George Benson and Stanley Turrentine, then traveled to Europe with Charles Tolliver's quartet. During the '70s, he worked with the group Music Inc., co-led by Tolliver and Stanley Cowell. Queen departed America in 1979 for Switzerland, and established Nilva Records. He then toured France with Plas Johnson and Harry Edison, and recorded with John Collins and Junior Mance in the '80s; while also working in Zurich with a trio led by Wild Bill Davis and recording with another led by Lonnie Smith. He also did his own dates. Queen has no sessions currently available on CD, but can be heard on reissues by Music Inc. ~ Ron Wynn and Michael G. Nastos, All Music Guide

2024: Alvin signed up with Vic Firth and Zildjian




Alvin Queen Drummerworld2024: New CD and LP: Alvin Queen Trio: Feeling Good



Alvin Queen Drummerworld© Goffredo Loertscher



Drummerworld Video

Alvin Queen
Drum Solo
and Trading Two's



Alvin Queen
Tommy Flanagan
George Mraz
Rain Check
Jazzfestival Bern - 1991


Alvin Queen
Tommy Flanagan
George Mraz
Jazzfestival Bern - 1991


Alvin Queen
Tommy Flanagan
George Mraz
Round About Midnight
Jazzfestival Bern - 1991



Alvin Queen
Ron Affif Trio
Voyage
Jazz à Vienne - France - 1998



Alvin Queen
Ron Affif Trio
Hot Trading
Jazz à Vienne - France - 1998



Alvin Queen
Ron Affif Trio
Groovy Trading
Jazz à Vienne - France - 1998



Alvin Queen
Ron Affif Trio
Cheek To Cheek
Jazz à Vienne - France - 1998



Alvin Queen - Johnny Griffin
Horace Parlan - Reggie Johnson
Hot Saki
Subway - Cologne - 1994



Alvin Queen - Johnny Griffin
Horace Parlan - Reggie Johnson
James
Subway - Cologne - 1994



Alvin Queen - Johnny Griffin
Horace Parlan - Reggie Johnson
The Cat
Subway - Cologne - 1994



Alvin Queen
Clarke Terry
Jazzfestival Bern
Switzerland



Alvin Queen
Take The Coltrane


Alvin Queen
Ray's Idea





Alvin Queen Drummerworld



Drummerworld Video
Alvin Queen
Drum Solo and Trading





Alvin Queen Drummerworld






Alvin Queen DrummerworldBenny Green Trio & Harry Allen - Alvin Queen



Alvin Queen Drummerworld



Drummerworld Video
Alvin Queen - Johnny Griffin - Horace Parlan - Reggie Johnson
Hot Saki
Subway - Cologne - 1994





Alvin Queen Drummerworld




Alvin Queen:
Cool Trading with Kenny Drew and Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen
Brewhouse Theatre 1993






Alvin Queen Drummerworld



Drummerworld Video
Alvin Queen - Michael Brecker
Christian McBride - Benny Green - Ulf Wakenius
Take The Coltrane
Concert in memoriam Ray Brown - Jazz Baltica - 2003





Alvin Queen Drummerworld



Drummerworld Video
Alvin Queen - Ron Affif Trio
Ron Affif - Essief Essiet - Alvin Queen
Voyage
Jazz à Vienne - France - 1998





Alvin Queen Drummerworld



Drummerworld Video
Alvin Queen - Ron Affif Trio
Ron Affif - Essief Essiet - Alvin Queen
Groovy Trading
Jazz à Vienne - France - 1998





Alvin Queen Drummerworld



Drummerworld Video
Alvin Queen - Johnny Griffin - Horace Parlan - Reggie Johnson
James
Subway - Cologne - 1994





Alvin Queen Drummerworld © Philippe Haulet




Alvin Queen Drummerworld



Alvin Queen Drummerworld



Drummerworld Video
Alvin Queen - Tommy Flanagan - George Mraz
Round About Midnight
Jazzfestival Bern - Switzerland - 1991





Alvin Queen Drummerworld



Drummerworld Video
Alvin Queen
Jon Faddis - Niels Henning Ørsted-Pedersen
Christian McBride - Benny Green - Ulf Wakenius
Ray's Idea
Concert in memoriam Ray Brown - Jazz Baltica - 2003





Alvin Queen Drummerworld © Woomy Schmidt



Alvin Queen Drummerworld




Alvin Queen - Kenny Drew - Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen
Hush-A-Bye
Brewhouse Theatre 1993






Alvin Queen DrummerworldAdam Schroeder - Terrell Tafford - Alvin Queen
Berlin 2004


Drummerworld Video
Alvin Queen
Tommy Flanagan - George Mraz
Jazzfestival Bern - Switzerland - 1991





Alvin Queen Drummerworld



Alvin Queen Drummerworld



Drummerworld Video
Alvin Queen - Ron Affif Trio
Ron Affif - Essief Essiet - Alvin Queen
Hot Drum Trading
Jazz à Vienne - France - 1998





Alvin Queen Drummerworld



Alvin Queen Drummerworld © Jos Knaepen



Alvin Queen Drummerworld© Cathy Caraveo



Alvin Queen Drummerworld © Marek Lazarski



Alvin Queen Drummerworld Alvin Queen - Dizzy Gillespie - Wynton Marsalis



Alvin Queen DrummerworldElvin Jones - Alvin Queen



Alvin Queen Drummerworld
thanks for your visit!






CLICK:
the 500 Top Drummers:
Matt Abts

Alex Acuna

Daniel Adair
Chris Adler
Morgan Agren
Airto Moreira Drummerworld
Airto

Tommy Aldridge
Tim Alexander
Rashied Ali
Don Alias
Carl Allen
Tony Allen
Cliff Almond
Barry Altschul
Robby Ameen
Scott Amendola
Animal
Charly Antolini - Drummerworld
Charly Antolini

Carmine Appice - Drummerworld
Carmine Appice

Vinny Appice
Kenny Aronoff - Drummerworld
Kenny Aronoff

Joe Ascione
Mick Avory
Marcel Bach
Manolo Badrena
Colin Bailey
Donald Bailey
Ginger Baker - Drummerworld
Ginger Baker

Jeff Ballard
Joe La Barbera
Danny Barcelona
travis Barker - Drummerworld
Travis Barker

Barriemore Barlow
Joey Baron
Ranjit Barot
Julio Barreto
Ray Bauduc
Eddie Bayers
Marcus Baylor
Frank Beard
Carter Beauford
Bruce Becker
Poogie Bell
Louie Bellson - Drummerworld
Louie Bellson

Frank Bellucci
Brian Bennett
Han Bennink
Joe Bergamini
Tal Bergman
Jon Bermuda Schwartz
Ignacio Berroa
Denzil Best
Pete Ray Biggin
Curt Bisquera
Gregg Bissonette
Jason Bittner
Roger Biwandu
Dave Black
James Black
Jim Black
Cindy Blackman
John Blackwell - Drummerworld
John Blackwell

Brady Blade
Brian Blade - Drummerworld
Brian Blade

Hal Blaine - Drummerworld
Hal Blaine

Art Blakey - Drummerworld
Art Blakey

Jason Bonham
John Bonham - Drummerworld
John Bonham

Gergo Borlai
Paul Bostaph
Terry Bozzio
Paulo Braga
Dirk Brand
Jimmy Branly
Tom Brechtlein - Drummerworld
Tom Brechtlein

Amir Bresler
Don Brewer
Gerry Brown
Bill Bruford - Drummerworld
Bill Bruford

Ronald Bruner Jr.
Jack Bruno
Mark Brzezicki
Roy Burns
Ronnie Burrage
William Calhoun
Clayton Cameron
Matt Cameron
Gorden Campbell
Teddy Campbell - Drummerworld
Teddy Campbell

Tommy Campbell
Emmanuelle Caplette
Danny Carey
Keith Carlock - Drummerworld
Keith Carlock

Bun E. Carlos
Karen Carpenter
Terri Lyne Carrington
Bernhard Castiglioni
Joey Castillo
Lenny Castro
Deen Castronovo
Big Sid Catlett
André Ceccarelli
Dave DiCenso
Gary Chaffee
Matt Chamberlain
Jimmy Chamberlin
Dennis Chambers - Drummerworld
Dennis Chambers

Joe Chambers
Ndugu Chancler
Jim Chapin
Gary Chester
Jon Christensen
Kenny Clare
Greg Clark
Mike Clark
Kenny Clarke - Drummerworld
Kenny Clarke

Doug Clifford
Tommy Clufetos
Jimmy Cobb - Drummerworld
Jimmy Cobb

Billy Cobham - Drummerworld
Billy Cobham

Vinnie Colaiuta - Drummerworld
Vinnie Colaiuta

Cozy Cole - Drummerworld
Cozy Cole

Chris Coleman
Cora Coleman-Dunham
Tony Coleman
Phil Collins
Bobby Colomby
Aaron Comess
Luis Conte
Tre Cool
Ray Cooper
Stewart Copeland - Drummerworld
Stewart Copeland

Kirk Covington
René Creemers
Adam Cruz
Sylvia Cuenca
Abe Cunningham
Mickey Curry
Andrew Cyrille
Nick D'Virgilio
Paulinho Da Costa
Duduka Da Fonseca
Brann Dailor
Dino Danelli
Zach Danziger
Flo Dauner
Chris Daddy Dave - Drummerworld
Chris "Daddy" Dave

Alan Dawson - Drummerworld
Alan Dawson

Mikkey Dee
Barrett Deems
Jimmy DeGrasso
Adam Deitch
Jack DeJohnette - Drummerworld
Jack DeJohnette

Kenwood Dennard
John Densmore
Wim DeVries
Dave DiCenso
Rick Dior
Marko Djordjevic
Warren "Baby" Dodds
Peter Donald
Virgil Donati
Gabor Dornyei
Paul Douglas
Brian Downey
Hamid Drake
Bernie Dresel
Martin Drew
The Drumbassadors
Billy Drummond
Aynsley Dunbar
Sly Dunbar
Frankie Dunlop
Mario Duplantier
Bobby Durham
Sheila E.
Phil Ehart
Dave Elitch
Paul Elliott
Sonny Emory
Bertram Engel
Peter Erskine - Drummerworld
Peter Erskine

Dom Famularo
Pierre Favre
Steve Ferrone
Anton Fig
Vera Figueiredo
Sammy Figueroa
Larry Finn
Eric Fischer
Mick Fleetwood
Duduka Da Fonseca
George Fludas
D.J. Fontana
Hannah Ford-Welton
Shannon Forrest
Al Foster - Drummerworld
Al Foster

Vernel Fournier
Panama Francis
Joe Franco
Brian Frasier-Moore
Josh Freese
Kiko Freitas
Steve Gadd - Drummerworld
Steve Gadd

James Gadson
Richie Gajate-Garcia
David Garibaldi - Drummerworld
David Garibaldi

Matt Garstka
Mel Gaynor
Jason Gianni
Andy Gillmann
Marcus Gilmore
Nikki Glaspie
Daniel Glass
Evelyn Glennie
Jim Gordon - Drummerworld
Jim Gordon

Danny Gottlieb
Jimmy DeGrasso
Eric Kamau Gravatt
Milford Graves
Benny Greb - Drummerworld
Benny Greb

Sonny Greer
Rayford Griffin
Dave Grohl
Freddie Gruber
Donny Gruendler
Maison Guidry
Mark Guiliana - Drummerworld
Mark Guiliana

Terreon Gully
Trilok Gurtu
Ralf Gustke
Tomas Haake
Wolfgang Haffner
Omar Hakim - Drummerworld
Omar Hakim

Matt Halpern
Chico Hamilton
Jeff Hamilton - Drummerworld
Jeff Hamilton

Lionel Hampton
Jake Hanna
Eric Harland - Drummerworld
Eric Harland

Buddy Harman
Gavin Harrison - Drummerworld
Gavin Harrison

Mickey Hart
Billy Hart
Steve Hass
Fritz Hauser
Roger Hawkins
Taylor Hawkins
Louis Hayes - Drummerworld
Louis Hayes

Roy Haynes - Drummerworld
Roy Haynes

Richie Hayward
Albert Tootie Heath
Levon Helm
Gerry Hemingway
Don Henley
Horacio Hernandez
Claus Hessler
Gerald Heyward - Drummerworld
Gerald Heyward

Giovanni Hidalgo
Billy Higgins - Drummerworld
Billy Higgins

Jeff Hirshfield
Jon Hiseman
Ari Hoenig
Gene Hoglan
Rodney Holmes
Steve Houghton
Daniel Humair
Ralph Humphrey
Gary Husband
Zakir Hussain
Greg Hutchinson
Susie Ibarra
Tommy Igoe
Tris Imboden
Al Jackson
Duffy Jackson
Gene Jackson
Huub Janssen
Bobby Jarzombek
Akira Jimbo
Jonas Johansen
Jack DeJohnette Drummerworld
Jack DeJohnette

Gus Johnson
Mike Johnston
Daru Jones
Elvin Jones - Drummerworld
Elvin Jones

Harold Jones
Papa Jo Jones - Drummerworld
Papa Jo Jones

Philly Joe Jones - Drummerworld
Philly Joe Jones

Rufus "Speedy" Jones
Steve Jordan - Drummerworld
Steve Jordan

Joey Jordison
Jonathan Joseph
Manu Katché
Senri Kawaguchi
Jim Keltner - Drummerworld
Jim Keltner

Will Kennedy
Billy Kilson
George Kollias
Glenn Kotche
Joey Kramer
Bill Kreutzmann
Gene Krupa - Drummerworld
Gene Krupa

Russ Kunkel
Joe La Barbera
Abe Laboriel, jr.
Gene Lake
Don Lamond
Thomas Lang
Dave Langguth
Shannon Larkin
Pete LaRoca Sims
Karl Latham
Rick Latham
Trevor Lawrence Jr.
Ricky Lawson - Drummerworld
Ricky Lawson

Chris Layton
Tommy Lee
Felix M. Lehrmann
Paul Leim
Stan Levey
Larnell Lewis
Mel Lewis
Victor Lewis
Pete Lockett
Dave Lombardo
Larrie Londin
John Longstreth
Hakim Ludin
Ray Luzier
Peter Magadini
Mike Mangini
Shelly Manne - Drummerworld
Shelly Manne

Brian "Brain" Mantia
Sherrie Maricle
Rick Marotta
John Marshall
Billy Martin
Pedrito Martinez
Ken K. Mary
Harvey Mason - Drummerworld
Harvey Mason

Nick Mason
Pat Mastelotto
Dave Mattacks
Phil Maturano
Jojo Mayer - Drummerworld
JoJo Mayer

Marilyn Mazur
Nicko McBrain
Joe McCarthy
George Spanky McCurdy
Jason McGerr
Russ McKinnon
Marvin McQuitty
Buddy Miles
Butch Miles
Russ Miller
Marco Minnemann
Mike Mitchell
Mitch Mitchell - Drummerworld
Mitch Mitchell

Joseph Ziggy Modeliste
Jonathan Moffett
Mark Mondesir
Drori Mondlak
Keith Moon - Drummerworld
Keith Moon

Eric Moore
Stanton Moore - Drummerworld
Stanton Moore

Steve Moore
Airto Moreira Drummerworld
Airto Moreira

Joe Morello - Drummerworld
Joe Morello

Rod Morgenstein
Joe Morris
Nate Morton
Paul Motian
Famadou Don Moye
Alphonse Mouzon
Jonathan Mover
Moritz Mueller
Idris Muhammad
Narada
Lewis Nash
Sandy Nelson
Andy Newmark
Jost Nickel
Anika Nilles
David Northrup
Gary Novak
Nippy Noya
Adam Nussbaum
Volkan Oektem
Jamie Oldaker
Nigel Olsson
Tony Oxley
Ian Paice - Drummerworld
Ian Paice

Carl Palmer - Drummerworld
Carl Palmer

Earl Palmer - Drummerworld
Earl Palmer

Francis Panama
Toss Panos
Chris Parker
Leon Parker
Vinnie Paul
Jim Payne
Sonny Payne
Lee Pearson
Neil Peart - Drummerworld
Neil Peart

Shawn Pelton
Clarence Penn
Chris Pennie
Armando Peraza
Karl Perazzo
Stephen Perkins
Charli Persip
Ralph Peterson
Pat Petrillo
Simon Phillips - Drummerworld
Simon Phillips

Diego Piñera
Jeff Porcaro - Drummerworld
Jeff Porcaro

Mike Portnoy - Drummerworld
Mike Portnoy

Cozy Powell
Bobby Previte
Thomas Pridgen
Aquiles Priester
Dafnis Prieto
Tito Puente
Bernard Purdie - Drummerworld
Bernard "Pretty" Purdie

Alvin Queen
Jeff Queen
Questlove
Johnny Rabb
Tobias Ralph
Stanley Randolph
Rich Redmond
Raul Rekow
Walfredo Reyes, Jr.
Walfredo Reyes
Buddy Rich - Drummerworld
Buddy Rich

Dannie Richmond
Sean Rickman
Alex Riel
Karriem Riggins
Ben Riley
Herlin Riley
Jim Riley
John Riley - Drummerworld
John Riley

Ringo Starr - Drummerworld
Ringo

Max Roach - Drummerworld
Max Roach

Lil John Roberts
John J.R. Robinson - Drummerworld
John J.R. Robinson

Pete LaRoca Sims
Bobby Rock
Derek Roddy
Calvin Rodgers
Mickey Roker
Bobby Rondinelli
Joel Rosenblatt
Tony Royster Jr.
Ilan Rubin
Phil Rudd
Daniel Sadownick
Bobby Sanabria
Antonio Sanchez - Drummerworld
Antonio Sanchez

Poncho Sanchez
Mongo Santamaria
Cindy Blackman Santana
Christoph Schneider
Jared Schonig
Mark Schulman
Jon Bermuda Schwartz
Kendrick Scott
Robert Sput Searight
Denny Seiwell
Danny Seraphine
Paco Séry
Chad Sexton
Gil Sharone
Ed Shaughnessy
Michael Shrieve
El Estepario Siberiano
Pete LaRoca Sims
Eric Singer
Zutty Singleton
Jeff Sipe
Chad Smith
Marvin "Smitty" Smith
Nate Smith
Nick Smith
Steve Smith - Drummerworld
Steve Smith

Ash Soan
Glen Sobel
Yoyoka Soma
Ed Soph
Matt Sorum
Richard Spaven
Aaron Spears - Drummerworld
Aaron Spears

Jeremy Stacey
David Stanoch
Zak Starkey
John "Jabo" Starks

Ringo Starr

Aaron Sterling
Billy Stewart - Drummerworld
Bill Stewart

Nisan Stewart

Clyde Stubblefield

Fredy Studer
Todd Sucherman
James "The Rev" Sullivan
Jason Sutter
Fukushi Tainaka
Grady Tate
Garo Tavitjan
Art Taylor
Joel Taylor
Mel Taylor
Roger Taylor
John Tempesta
Jon Theodore
Aaron Thier
Ed Thigpen - Drummerworld
Ed Thigpen

Ian Thomas
Questlove Thompson
Chester Thompson
Brian Tichy
Top Secret Drum Corps
Pat Torpey
Tico Torres
Dave Tough
Nat Townsley
Scott Travis
Ron Tutt
Justin Tyson
Lars Ulrich
Vadrum
Andrea Vadrucci

Christian Vander
Alex Van Halen
Ronnie Vannucci
Nana Vasconcelos
Carlos Vega
Glen Velez
Ronnie Verrell
Nicolas Viccaro
Johnny Vidacovich
Jimmy Vincent
Nick D'Virgilio
Chad Wackerman
Nasheet Waits
Narada Michael Walden
Bill Ward
Billy Ward
Kenny Washington
Derico Watson
Charlie Watts - Drummerworld
Charlie Watts

Jeff "Tain" Watts
Chick Webb
Dave Weckl - Drummerworld
Dave Weckl

Max Weinberg
Klaus Weiss
Hannah Ford Welton
Paul Wertico
Genius Lee Wesley
George Wettling
Alan White
Lenny White
Steve White
Pete Wilhoit
Brad Wilk
Rashid Williams
Tony Williams - Drummerworld
Tony Williams

Matt Wilson
Shadow Wilson
David "Pick" Withers
Kenny Wollesen
Nate Wood
Sam Woodyard
Pete York
Yoyoka
Pete Zeldman
Zoro