Home » Jazz Musicians » Alan Hall
Alan Hall
Started drumming professionally with a San Jose, California based Mexican American Party Band: "Los Unicos" at age of 13. Began working as jazz drummer in San Francisco Bay Area until departure for Boston, MA.
Attended Berklee College of Music and in 1986 joined percussion faculty there for 7years. While in Boston, he worked/recorded with singer Rebecca Parris, Scott Robinson, Stu Hamn, Larry Coryell, among others.
Moved to back to California where he played/recorded with Art Lande, Paul McCandless, Kai Eckhardt, Ed Simon, Geoffrey Keezer, Kenny Washigton among others.
Currently teacher at California Jazz Conservatory in Berkeley and Cal State East Bay in Hayward.
Awards
Ratatet's debut CD, "Arctic" (Ridgeway Records) was named as one of "Top 10 Bay Area Jazz Releases" in article for San Jose Mercury by Andrew Gilbert https://youtu.be/uxSfkerPx0U In 2017 Ratatet received grants from "San Francisco Friends of Chamber Music" and "Creative Sonoma" to begin production of their 2nd CD ,"Heroes, Saints and Clowns" (Ridgeway Records), to be released in April 2018.
Tags
Alan Hall: Heroes, Saints and Clowns
by Chris M. Slawecki
Ratatet, the sextet led by drummer Alan Hall, doesn't seem to quite fit into a musical box of any style or shape. One of the San Francisco Bay area's most respected musical performers and educators, Hall assembled this uniquely constructed ensemble from fragments of previous engagements: He previously played in a trio called Electreo with Paul Hanson (here on tenor sax and bassoon, acoustic and with electronic treatments) and Jeff Denson (on fretless electric and double acoustic bass). Hall and ...
read moreRatatet: Arctic
by James Nadal
The Ridgeway Arts non-profit venture in San Francisco Bay Area, was established by bassist/educator Jeff Denson, to provide and promote performance, education and recording opportunities for serious artists. The electro- acoustic ensemble, Ratatet, released Arctic as part of this program, and is an example what can be accomplished with dedication and determination. Ratatet was formed by drummer Alan Hall, with the intention of performing jazz that is expansive and ingenious. With the novel approach of having bassoonist Paul ...
read moreJohn Harrison Trio: Roman Sun
by Craig W. Hurst
Roman Sun is a delightful collection of smartly arranged, and deftly performed tunes selected from jazz standards, and the enduring corpus of the Great American Songbook. An original composition, the CD’s title cut, by leader/pianist John Harrison rounds out the ten selections on the recording. Good consistent time, driving swing, tight ensemble, and the inventive soloing present on Roman Sun exemplify skills of musicians who obviously possess chops that far exceed a mere level of competence.The title tune ...
read moreThe John Harrison Trio: Roman Sun
by Jack Bowers
Another superb piano trio, this one from the Boston area and comprised of names that were unknown to us but no less impressive than many who are. The pianist, John Harrison III, is a forceful two--handed player who always knows precisely where he has been and where he is going. Drummer Alan Hall and bassist Peter Kontrimas forge a solid substratum, allowing Harrison to traverse his sinuous musical pathways without fear of mishap. The recipe calls for straight--ahead ...
read moreJohn Harrison Trio: Roman Sun
by Glenn Astarita
The folks at Rhode Island-based, “Whaling City Sound” continue to highlight the abundance of jazz talent emanating from the New England area. The celebration surges onward with the debut release by the “John Harrison Trio.” On this newly issued outing, pianist John Harrison guides his rhythm section through a program consisting of standards, one Harrison original composition (“Roman Sun”) and a few less familiar works by others. Thus, nothing new or radically different yet Harrison is a zestful artist who ...
read moreAlan Hall's Ratatet Addresses Current Turmoil In American Society With "Heroes, Saints And Clowns," Set For Release June 22 On Ridgeway Records
Source:
Terri Hinte Publicity
jny: San Francisco Bay Area drummer, composer, and bandleader Alan Hall turned to music when he found himself in the midst of what he describes as “some of the greatest turmoil our country has ever experienced.” In order to cope, he penned the sonic vignettes heard on his new CD Heroes, Saints and Clowns, set for June 22 release on Ridgeway Records. Performed by his genre-bending sextet Ratatet, which was formed in 2014 and made its recording debut in 2016 ...
read more
“…what sets Ratatet apart…is Hall’s finely calibrated compositional sensibility, which balances muscular grooves with multidirectional melodic lines, lush chords and lapidary voicings.” —Andrew Gilbert
Primary Instrument
Drums
Location
San Francisco
Willing to teach
Intermediate to advanced
Credentials/Background
Assistant Professor Berklee College of Music 1986-1993, Associate Professor at California Jazz Conservatory 2014 to present, Lecturer at Cal State East Bay 2010 to present, go to www.jazzdrumming.com for more details on my current teaching activities, rates and locations
Clinic/Workshop Information
Have presented many clinics on numerous topics: • Drum Soloing Strategies • Linear Drumming • Rhythm Section Playing • Working with the Metronome • The Versatile Drummer • Establishing an Efficient Practice Routine • Big Band Playing
