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Alan Pasqua

Alan Pasqua, Chairman of Jazz Studies at USC, was born in New Jersey and began studying piano at the age of seven, playing both classical and jazz. He attended Indiana University and received his bachelor's degree in jazz studies from the New England Conservatory. While performing a concert at Carnegie Hall, Pasqua met the legendary drummer Tony Williams. Pasqua was asked to join The New Tony Williams Lifetime along with guitarist Allan Holdsworth. After recording two “Lifetime” albums for Columbia Records, Pasqua relocated in Los Angeles. His career in L.A. broadened as he started playing with more rock and pop artists. He has been a member of the bands of Bob Dylan and Santana. Some of his other album and touring credits include: Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Elton John, Queen Latifa, and Rod Stewart. In addition, he has worked with composers John Williams, Quincy Jones, Dave Grusin, Jerry Goldsmith and Henry Mancini and on motion picture soundtracks. In addition, Alan composed the soundtrack for Disney’s hit movie, The Waterboy, starring Adam Sandler.

In the jazz world, Pasqua has played and recorded with Jack Dejohnette, Paul Motion, Dave Holland, Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, Joe Henderson, Stanley Clarke, Gary Burton, James Moody, Gary Peacock, Gary Bartz, Reggie Workman, The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra, Sheila Jordan and Joe Williams. Aside from his many critically acclaimed recordings as a leader, in 2008, Pasqua joined forces with Peter Erskine and Dave Carpenter, arranging, co-producing and playing on the Grammy Award nominated trio album “Standards”. His latest release, “Twin Bill” features Pasqua recorded on two pianos, playing the music of Bill Evans. This CD will be released Fall 2011 on the BFM Jazz label.

Tags

5
Radio & Podcasts

Kozo Suganuma, Robert Walter, Snarky Puppy and Allan Holdsworth

Read "Kozo Suganuma, Robert Walter, Snarky Puppy and Allan Holdsworth" reviewed by Len Davis


Drummers Kozo Suganuma and Senri Kawaguchi. Funky sounds from Robert Walter and Snarky Puppy. Allan Holdsworth, Jimmy Haslip, Alan Pasqua and Chad Wackerman from Proto Cosmos, plus Virgil Donati, Alex Lofoco and CAB. Playlist Into The Night “War Elephant" from Into The Night (Arpeggio Musicl) 00:00 Robert Walter “Security" from Better Feathers (Royal Potato Family) 06:44 Snarky Puppy “Mean Green" from Empire Central (GroundUp) 13:29 Alan Holdsworth “Red Alert" from Proto Cosmos (Blue Canoe) 20:07 Alan Pasqua “Fast ...

15
Album Review

Allan Holdsworth & Alan Pasqua: Proto-Cosmos

Read "Proto-Cosmos" reviewed by Jim Worsley


If the song title “Proto-Cosmos" brings Tony Williams to mind then step to the front of the class. Alan Pasqua's tune is featured on the drummer's 1975 album, Believe It (Columbia). The record is considered by some to be the best fusion album of all time. In addition to Pasqua and bassist Tony Newton, a young British guitarist named Allan Holdsworth introduced himself to the masses. Fast forward to 2022 and it has been five and a half years since ...

17
Album Review

Alan Pasqua, Peter Erskine, Darek Oles: Live In Italy

Read "Live In Italy" reviewed by Jim Worsley


Pianist Alan Pasqua and drummer Peter Erskine have been playing together for over fifty years now. For over twenty years Darek Oles has completed the trio on double bass. While brilliant upper-echelon musicians in their own right, the magic that ensues in this trio is remarkable. Could playing together for so long, performing thousands of shows over the years lead to burnout or it becoming “old hat?" Not for these three true jazz cats. The conversations just get deeper, their ...

2
Album Review

Matt Gordy: Be With Me

Read "Be With Me" reviewed by Richard J Salvucci


There is an expression of high regard for playing, “in the tradition," which basically means, yeah, that is jazz, music of the highest order. Matt Gordy's “Be With Me" is particularly arresting because it is in the tradition, but neither a recreation nor an exercise in nostalgia. Everyone from Charlie Christian to Modern Jazz Quartet has played “Topsy" (1937) in one form or another. It lends itself to multiple blues changes and swing to boppish solos, all of ...

31
Album Review

The Matt Gordy Jazz Tonite Sextet: Be With Me

Read "Be With Me" reviewed by Jack Bowers


In 2006, drummer Matt Gordy heeded the mandate to “go west, young man," moving from Boston to Los Angeles, while he was still “young at heart," and quickly becoming a mainstay of the local scene, after years of success as a jazz and classical drummer in New England, and even with the Maracaibo, Venezuela, Symphony Orchestra, where he spent nine years as chief percussionist. After fifteen years gigging in Los Angeles, Gordy decided it was time to record his first ...

4
Album Review

Jeff Ellwood: The Sounds Around The House

Read "The Sounds Around The House" reviewed by Pierre Giroux


As a professional musician hoping to have a meaningful career, hiding one's light under a bushel, may not be the best way to recognizable success. Such might be the case for tenor saxophonist Jeff Ellwood. He may have fallen into the trap evinced by the Dave Frishberg ditty “I Want To Be A Sideman." But as the saying goes; “better late than never" as Ellwood released a self-produced debut, The Sounds Around The House. ...

12
Album Review

Alan Pasqua: Day Dream

Read "Day Dream" reviewed by Jim Worsley


When you hear that Alan Pasqua has put out a new record, the first thought--other than perhaps happiness--is what genre are we talking about? Pasqua has worn many hats in his career. To his credit, he looks quite fashionable in any of them. Maybe you think of fusion Pasqua, who mixed it up with the genre's finest, from Tony Williams to Allan Holdsworth. Perhaps it is the highest order of straight ahead jazz with the likes of Peter Erskine on ...

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110

Interview

Alan Pasqua on Bill Evans

Alan Pasqua on Bill Evans

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

It takes a lot of courage for a pianist to take on Bill Evans. It requires even more courage for that pianist to overdub himself recording Evans' songs. After all, any pianist who would attempt such a thing would be asking for a ton of trouble. Evans fans are pretty particular, passionate and protective of the late pianist and have a low tolerance for intruders. Unless, of course, a pianist paying tribute to Evans actually pulled it off. Alan Pasqua ...

117

Recording

Pianist/Composer Alan Pasqua Releases New Recording "Twin Bill" on BFM Jazz

Pianist/Composer Alan Pasqua Releases New Recording "Twin Bill" on BFM Jazz

Source: Two for the Show Media

The concept behind Twin Bill, Alan Pasqua's new album for BFM Jazz, is right there in the title—there's nothing ambiguous about it. “Bill Evans was my hero," says the artist, and, with that as a starting point, Pasqua has embraced a handful of pieces composed by or associated with the transformative jazz pianist, added in a rearranged traditional tune and an original, and topped it all off with an indisputable classic that ties the music in with the other love ...

68

TV / Film

Fuzzy Music Release New Recording Titled "Standards 2 - Movie Music" with Peter Erskine, Bob Mintzer, Darek Oles, and Alan Pasqua

Fuzzy Music Release New Recording Titled "Standards 2 - Movie Music" with Peter Erskine, Bob Mintzer, Darek Oles, and Alan Pasqua

Source: Two for the Show Media

Music is often spoken of as forming the soundtrack of our lives. Movie score music compounds the effect, marrying melody with image, the exponential power of 24 frames per second combined with soaring tunes and magical counterpoint to provide all of us who love the movies a powerful emotional and cultural reference point, time and again. And who doesn't love a good movie or song? These songs are standards in both the jazz and cinematic sense. Compiling any sort of ...

86

Recording

Guitarist/Composer Wayne Brasel Releases New CD Titled "If You Would Dance" on Brajazz Records Featuring Peter Erskine, Alan Pasqua, and Tom Warrington

Guitarist/Composer Wayne Brasel Releases New CD Titled "If You Would Dance" on Brajazz Records Featuring Peter Erskine, Alan Pasqua, and Tom Warrington

Source: Two for the Show Media

On If You Would Dance, jazz guitarist Wayne Brasel teams up with a top west coast rhythm section and records a beautiful CD of his own lyrical compositions. Wayne's friendship with world class drummer Peter Erskine goes back to when Peter was only 19 and touring around with the Stan Kenton big band. Over the years Wayne and Peter have kept in touch playing live in various settings and recording Wayne's 1995 trio record “ The Beatnik Walk". The other ...

148

Performance / Tour

Allan Holdsworth / Alan Pasqua / Jimmy Haslip / Chad Wackerman - East Coast Tour

Allan Holdsworth / Alan Pasqua / Jimmy Haslip / Chad Wackerman -  East Coast Tour

Source: All About Jazz

HOLDSWORTH PASQUA HASLIP WACKERMAN EAST COAST USA TOUR Allan Holdsworth guitar Alan Pasqua keyboards * (except January 26) Jimmy Haslip bass guitar Chad Wackerman drums Promoting the upcoming MoonJune Records' release Blues For Tony (double CD). Tour Schedule January 26 – Alexandria, VA (The Birchmere) (this show only: HOLDSWORTH HASLIP WACKERMAN) January 27 – ...

306

Performance / Tour

Peter Erskine, Alan Pasqua and Darek Oles Play in Red Carpet Jazz Series Upstairs at Vitello's Studio City

Peter Erskine, Alan Pasqua and Darek Oles Play in Red Carpet Jazz Series Upstairs at Vitello's Studio City

Source: All About Jazz

Peter plays with his current band with Alan Pasqua and Darek Oles. Whatta TRIO! Upstairs at Vitello's is becoming known as “one of LA's best listening rooms". This combination will present a stellar evening for music aficionados on Wednesday September 16, 2009 in Studio City. Reservations 818-769-0905 concert 7:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. 4349 Tujunga Avenue, Studio City, Ca 91604. Peter Erskine began playing the drums at the age of four, and has now been at the forefront of world-class ...

247

Award / Grant

Alan Pasqua Renowned Pianist Appointed Chair USC Thornton School of Music Jazz Studies

Alan Pasqua Renowned Pianist Appointed Chair USC Thornton School of Music Jazz Studies

Source: All About Jazz

Acclaimed Artists Saxophonist/Composer Bob Mintzer and Drummer Peter Erskine also Named to Jazz Faculty. USC Thornton introduces New Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Jazz.

Legendary jazz pianist Alan Pasqua has been appointed Chair of USC Thornton School of Musics illustrious jazz studies department. The announcement was made by Dr. Robert Cutietta, dean of the school, who also named two other internationally renowned artists to the jazz studies faculty: saxophonist/composer Bob Mintzer and drummer Peter Erskine.

Additionally, USC Thornton is introducing ...

407

Performance / Tour

Marcus Miller to Play with Bob Sheppard, Alan Pasqua, Bernie Dresel, and More...

Marcus Miller to Play with Bob Sheppard, Alan Pasqua, Bernie Dresel, and More...

Source: All About Jazz

MARCUS MILLER, ALAN PASQUA, BOB SHEPPARD, BERNIE DRESEL, CHRIS TEDESCO, BOB MCCHESENEY, MATT HARRIS, SCOTT WHITFIELD AT THE HW JAZZ FESTIVAL Eight world-renowned jazz musicians will be playing together one time only at the 4th Annual Harvard Westlake Jazz Festival on April 18th. The “All Star Combo” will have Marcus Miller on bass, Bob Sheppard on sax, Bernie Dresel on drums, Alan Pasqua on piano, Chris Tedesco on trumpet, Bob McCheseney on trombone, Matt Harris and Scott Whitfield playing at ...

235

Video / DVD

Allan Holdsworth & Alan Pasqua - Live at Yoshi's DVD - Avalable 04/15/08

Allan Holdsworth & Alan Pasqua - Live at Yoshi's DVD - Avalable 04/15/08

Source: All About Jazz

Captured live in HD at Yoshi's (2007), this incredible DVD features four of the world's most proficient jazz musicians today. Description: This DVD is a must have for any Jazz aficionado. With an approximate run time of 90 minutes, every song from this incredible tour is featured. Touring worldwide in 2007, this ensemble is a must see. Captured live in HD at Yoshi's, this incredible DVD features four of the world's most proficient jazz musicians today. Allan Holdsworth, Alan Pasqua, ...

62

Interview

Keyboardist Alan Pasqua Interviewed at AAJ

Keyboardist Alan Pasqua Interviewed at AAJ

Source: All About Jazz

Any discussion of Alan Pasqua must start with at the scintillating beginning of his official discography. His first recorded performance featured the then 23-year-old wunderkind of Fender Rhodes on The New Tony Williams Lifetime's Believe It (Columbia, 1975). His first sounds committed to wax were texturized Rhodes thickening “Snake Oil," then shadowing its serpentine melody as stated by Allan Holdsworth, a guitarist seemingly stolen from the future by the unit's provocative leader, the now-legendary Williams. At that time, the drummer ...

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Dedications

Postcards
2022

buy

Milagro

Postcards
2022

buy

Be With Me

Self Produced
2022

buy

Proto-Cosmos

Blue Canoe Records
2022

buy

Live In Italy

Fuzzy Music
2022

buy

Music for the...

Postcards
2022

buy

Blues For Tony

From: Proto-Cosmos
By Alan Pasqua

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