Alvin Queen "Ashanti"

Alvin Queen recently shared this solo drum track on his Facebook page from his 1981 album of the same name and I think it is amazing!



I had the pleasure of hearing Alvin Queen play with Oscar Peterson in New York City at Birdland in 2004 (it was, in fact, the only occasion in which I heard Peterson play live...)

The set started with Queen entering the stage and starting off the set by himself with a spectacular drum solo, launching into a powerful 2nd Line groove. Bassist Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen and guitarist Ulf Wakenius then joined him on stage, setting up a hard swinging groove while Peterson was wheeled over to the piano in his wheelchair. The quartet then launched into some of the most joyous music I've ever heard...