Al has been playing the drums since the age of 10. He has had the opportunity in playing in a wide variety of bands, groups, accompanying church choirs, to Big Bands. Studying first at Chichester, and then the Leeds College of Music, he gained a first class honours degree in Jazz. Whilst at the college he played with Phil Woods and John Dankworth. Playing in the college Big Band he also came under the direction of Barrie Forgie (BBC Big Band) and Rob McConnel (Boston Brass), including a TV appearance on the Richard Whitely Show. During 1998/99 he toured Europe with The Official Tribute to The Blues Brothers and joined two further UK tours in 1999/2000 and 2000/2001.