Alyn was born and raised in Ayr, Scotland into a house filled with music thanks to his dad, Jim, a local pianist and theatre MD. He began playing drums at age 13 and after studying with a few local teachers and performing with various school and regional big bands/ensembles he won an International Scholarship to study at the famous Berklee College of Music at age 16.
After leaving school he decided to study at Strathclyde University in Glasgow where he graduated with a BA(Hons) 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, Courtney Pine, Bheki Mseleku, Paul Towndrow, Claire Martin, Geoffrey Keezer, Annie Ross (Lambert, Hendricks & Ross), Frank Gambale, Geoff Gascoigne, Clare Teal, Brian Kellock, Scott Hamilton, Bruce Barth, Steve Hamilton, Madaleine Eastman, Ethan Iverson, Leo Blanco,Warren Vaché, David Newton, Carol Kidd, Bruce Adams,Damon Brown, Tim Garland, Keith Tippet.
Alyn is the drummer with the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, a position he has held for the past 4 years. In November 2004 through jazz saxophonist 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. He is also featured on Tommy Smith latest album - Forbidden Fruit.
As well 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 5 years he has recorded and toured all over Europe and America with top celtic band Wolfstone. He is also featured on many independent and major albums, including the Isobel Campbell (Belle & Sebastian) and Mark Lanagan (Queen's of the Stone Age) on their 2006 Mercury Prize nominated album Ballad of the Broken Seas and her follow up album 'Sunday at Devil Dirt'. He's recently recorded an album with singer/songwriter Gareth Davies Jones and the amazing jazz vocalist Carol Kidd - Dreamsville on Linn Records and is now currently on tour in Europe with Isobel, promoting her new album. He has also performed with Hue & Cry, Marti Pellow (Wet Wet Wet), Justin Currie (Del Amitri) & singer/songwriter - Amy McDonald.
He has just finished writing & producing his own first solo album which is due out in early 2009 along with a busy 'Tune-Up' tour planned. It features his regular trio - Ross Hamilton (bass) & David Dunsmuir (gtr) as well as special guests - Tommy Smith (tnr sax), Jason Rebello (pno), Paul Towndrow (alto/sop sax), Ryan Quigley (trumpet) & Maureen McMullan (vox).
"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 Courtney Pine (Alyn Cosker - Drums, Tommy Smith - Tenor Sax, Bheki Mseleku- Piano, Mike Hodgson - Upright bass. Edinburgh Jazz Festival, Queen's Hall 2007)
