KPF is the sparkling new album from top jazz drummer Alyn Cosker, long vital within the pulsating Scottish National Jazz Orchestra sound. As a leader he is just as renowned among close followers of the Scottish scene for the highly collectable Lyn’s Une released almost a decade ago. Touring very recently with the imaginative Corkonian trombonist Paul Dunlea, Alyn describes the story behind the making of the album 

“My song titles usually come from something that catches my ear from people I’m connected with. For instance, the title ‘Hee Haw Twice’ was inspired by one of my oldest friends Andy Strachan. Between 2011 and 2015 I was living back in my beloved home town of Ayr. As I was walking back to my flat from my practice room after working on some very challenging music I bumped into Andy, and in relaying this to him he replied ‘it’ll be Hee Haw Twice for you’. Which is a compliment of the highest regard as he is a great musician himself! I’m very fortunate to have had a lot of guests that I would consider first and foremost friends/family as well as world class musicians record on the album. My original intention was to record my amazing core group of Steve Hamilton on keys, Davie Dunsmuir on guitar and Colin Cunningham on bass. However, I was working with Joe Locke in Germany and his manager Nadja von Massow suggested I should get Joe to record on a track. He was the first guest to record and it really gave me the confidence to ask all of the other musicians involved. I am so fortunate to have such a strong connection to each core musician as well as each amazing guest. A particular highlight was having my dad Jim Cosker guest on the song Eddi Reader sings ‘We Were Young’. He’s 78 and playing better than ever.  

I personally love being in the studio as much as playing live. Like anything else there are good and bad days. However, I’m really quite fortunate that these days, when in a recording studio, it’s of a very high standard with great engineers. My first album was recorded in the Castlesound studios in Pentcaitland by the incredible Stuart Hamilton. This album was recorded at Rocket Science Studios in Glasgow by Ross Hamilton (no relation to Stuart) and Michael Bannister. Ross mixed and mastered it, and I feel he has caught the essence of what I was hoping to achieve perfectly. 

I’m influenced by the vast pantheon of drummers in the tradition of playing music. For example : Kenny Clarke, Art Blakey, Max Roach, Art Blakey, Philly Joe Jones, Ed Thigpen, Elvin Jones, Tony Williams, Jimmy Cobb, Mitch Mitchell, Al Foster, Billy Cobham, Jack DeJohnette, Steve Gadd, Rick Marotta, Jim Keltner, Jeff Porcaro, Carlos Vega, Mike Clark, Neal Peart, Roger Taylor, Matt Chamberlain, Bill Stewart, Erik Tribbett, Ahmir Thompson [aka Questlove], Kendrick Scott, Justin Brown, Justin Tyson, etc, etc.I can very much relate to 1970s jazz rock (both Steve and Davie from my band are doing some gigs with Billy Cobham's band) as well as influences closer to home such as the incredible Celtic/traditional music scene. When I first left Uni I auditioned and toured with the band Wolfstone which was an incredible experience and introduction into that world. Albums from that idiom that have really influenced me are Fused by Michael McGoldrick and Hepta by the band Berrogüetto. As well as this I am hugely influenced by the writing of Peter Gabriel and Sting. I still constantly listen to albums such as So and Ten Summoner’s Tales. 99.9 per cent of this album was written on a piano. The riff of ‘Shoogly Paw’ was written on guitar as I was looking for a Led Zeppelin type feel to it. Once I’ve got an idea I like I may record it on my phone for reference, that’s as technical as it gets.  I have worked as a supporting musician for others since I was 14 so it’s definitely in my blood. I’ll always want to work for other artists and gain much valued experience both good and bad. At this point though I’m very interested in pursuing composition and band leading as well. I’ll let fate decide what should happen next.”