Alasdair Pennington is a British musician, drummer and composer born in Greater Manchester, who in recent years has established himself as a unique and exciting voice on the drum kit in the UK jazz and improvised music scenes. Based in London, he has performed and recorded with many eminent international artists across genres including Helen Sung, Baptiste Herbin, Alan Barnes, Laura Jurd, Dennis Rollins, Michael Dease, Steve Wilson, Robert Mitchell and the Flaming Lips among many others. 

Alasdair has performed and recorded at venues, studios and festivals across England and beyond including Manchester Jazz Festival, Lancaster Jazz Festival, Abbey Road Studios, Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, Vortex Jazz Club, The Leadmill, Porgy & Bess (Vienna) Jamboree Jazz Club (Barcelona) and Take 5 Jazz Club (Stockton, California).

Alasdair’s musicianship, musical development and approach to music in general have been heavily influenced by many pioneering Black American musicians including Art Blakey, Kenny Clarke, Jimmy Cobb, “Philly Joe” Jones, Tony Williams, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis and John Coltrane among many, many others.

In 2017, Alasdair was one of three UK applicants to be selected for the Brubeck Institute Summer Jazz Colony program at the Brubeck Institute in California. During this “intensive educational program in jazz performance for a limited number of exceptionally talented students” he received tuition from celebrated American musicians and educators including former pianist in Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers during the 1980s, Donald Brown.

Over the years, Alasdair Pennington has received tuition from renowned players and educators in the UK and the USA including John Riley, Lewis Nash, Tim Giles, Dave Walsh, Dave Hamblett, Martin France and Gregory Hutchinson. 

Alasdair is proudly endorsed by Bosphorus Cymbals.