About Alvin Queen
Born 1950. Alvin Queen is an American jazz musician, drummer and musician.
Alvin Queen is an American-born Swiss jazz drummer born in the Bronx, New York, on August 16, 1950. At 16, he played for Ruth Brown and Don Pullen and with the Wild Bill Davis trio. He played with trombonist Benny Green and guitarist Tiny Grimes in 1969 and replaced Billy Cobham in the Horace Silver quintet. He also played with the George Benson quartet before rejoining Charles Tolliver in November 1971. During the seventies, he lived in Canada, before settling in Switzerland in 1979 and creating the label Nilva, an anagram of his first name.
He has also played with Michael Brecker, Kenny Drew, Oscar Peterson, Bennie Wallace, Duško Gojković, Johnny Griffin, and George Coleman.
Discography As leader Alvin Queen in Europe (Nilva, 1980) Ashanti (Nilva, 1981) Glidin' and Stridin' (Nilva, 1981) with Junior Mance A Day in Holland (Nilva, 1983) with Dusko Goykovich Lenox and Seventh (Black & Blue, 1985) with Dr. Lonnie Smith Jammin' Uptown (Nilva, 1985) I'm Back (Nilva, 1992) I Ain't Looking at You (Justin Time, 2005) Mighty Long Way (Justin Time, 2008) Night Train To Copenhaguen (Stunt Records, 2021) Feeling Good (Stunt Records, 2024)
As sideman With George Coleman At Yoshi's (Theresa, 1989) With Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis Jaw's Blues (Enja, 1981) With John Hicks and Elise Wood Luminous (Nilva, 1988) With Horace Parlan Pannonica (Enja, 1981 ) With John Patton Soul Connection (Nilva, 1983) With Pharoah Sanders A Prayer Before Dawn (Theresa, 1987) With Charles Tolliver Impact (Enja, 1972) Live at the Loosdrecht Jazz Festival (Strata-East, 1973) With Warren Vaché Talk to Me Baby (Muse, 1996)
With Pierre Boussaguet
Charme (Polydor 1998)
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Important facts
People in Alvin Queen's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Alvin Queen's
Frequently asked questions
Who is Alvin Queen?
American drummer
When was Alvin Queen born?
Alvin Queen was born on 16 August 1950 in New York City.
What is Alvin Queen's occupation?
Alvin Queen is a jazz musician, drummer and musician.
What nationality is Alvin Queen?
Alvin Queen is American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Alvin Queen. https://biography.guide/alvin-queen/
MLA: "Alvin Queen." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/alvin-queen/.
Chicago: "Alvin Queen." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/alvin-queen/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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