Biography
Alan Pasqua is a Steinway Piano artist, Grammy Nominee and
Professor of Jazz Studies at USC Thornton School of Music.
He has played and recorded with Tony Williams, 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.
While performing a concert at Carnegie Hall in 1975, 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 to 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 pop album
credits include: Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Elton John and Queen
Latifa. In addition, he has worked with composers John Williams,
Quincy Jones, Dave Grusin, Jerry Goldsmith and Henry Mancini and
on motion picture soundtracks. Alan composed the soundtrack for
Adam Sandler’s Disney hit movie, The Waterboy, and is the co-
composer for the CBS Evening News Theme during the Dan Rather,
Scott Pelley and current Nora O’Donnell tenures.
He also recently composed and performed the piano improvisations
for Bob Dylan and his Nobel Prize acceptance speech.
Aside from his many critically acclaimed recordings as a leader in
jazz, in 2008, Pasqua joined forces with Peter Erskine and Dave
Carpenter, arranging, co-producing and playing on the Grammy
Award nominated album “Standards”. Releases “Twin Bill” (BFM
JAZZ) and “Northern Lights” followed. “Twin Bill” features Pasqua
recorded on two pianos, playing the music of Bill Evans. “Northern
Lights” is a new set of Pasqua original compositions, exploring his
roots in classical, pop and jazz idioms. Both CDs have received
critical praise from DOWNBEAT with 4 star reviews. His newer
releases, “Soliloquy” and “Day Dream” are solo piano recordings of
Alan’s favorite standards recorded on his own Hamburg Steinway
concert grand piano.
Most recently, Alan teamed up again with Peter Erskine and Darek
Oles to produce the 2022 Grammy nominated recording, “Live in
Italy” and also added George Garzone to the trio to record “3 Nights
in L.A.” The quartet will perform throughout Italy, July/August 2023.
