Albert Ahlf is a virtuoso pianist, vocalist, arranger, jazz historian & music teacher based in Rockland County, NY. Albert’s experience began in junior year at Tappan Zee HS when he first started gigging as a sideman. When Albert was a senior, he auditioned for NYSSMA and was selected out of thousands for the jazz piano chair in the Allstate Jazz Ensemble where he performed at the Eastman School of Music. After High School, Albert studied Jazz performance at Ithaca College, then transferring to SUNY Purchase for the remainder of his degree.
While at Purchase Albert studied with greats such as trumpeter Jon Faddis, Jazz Maniac Kenny Washington, Andy Laverne (student of Bill Evans), and esteemed pianist Charles Blenzig. In Jon Faddis’ music transcribing class, Albert transcribed and learned by ear Jazz piano solos by music legends such as Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson, and Chick Corea. When Albert was a senior at SUNY Purchase, he performed at Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola, and The Blue Note Jazz clubs in the city with the esteemed Purchase Jazz Orchestra (PJO). Albert played alongside legends Gary Bartz and Jerry Dogen who were performing as guests.
Albert’s first real performances though were in the Reformed Church of America (where he is an active member and performer for over a decade) when he was recruited to be the pianist and music director at the intimate Piermont Reformed Church in Piermont, Ny pastored by John Vandenoever, by whom Albert was ordained as a Deacon. Albert enjoys bringing traditional jazz inspired gospel music into his church.
After undergrad, Albert obtained a graduate degree in Music Education from Hunter College in NYC. While at Hunter, he developed his Jazz arranging skills and his knowledge of Jazz history, gaining expertise in both areas. After night classes at Hunter, Albert would voyage down to the village Jazz clubs to sit in for late night Jam sessions.
Jazz pianist Brad Meldau once touched Albert’s hair at Mezzrow Jazz Club and said that his hair was “very nice”. He also said to Albert that he really liked his playing.
For the past 6 years Albert has been a frequent performer at Maureen’s Jazz Cellar, and has contributed greatly to their weekly “Frosty” Open Mic (in tribute to the great former host Forest Lawson). Albert has also extensively worked private gigs as a solo pianist ranging from weddings, cocktail hours, or corporate events. Albert regularly plays piano for private functions at the esteemed “Roost” in Sparkill, NY.
In 2021 Albert released a solo piano single consisting of a solo piano reduction of a piece by Duke Ellington entitled “Black, Brown and Beige”. Albert transcribed by ear the full 20 minute first movement and condensed all of the instrument parts into a piece for solo piano and he even wrote out the entire score which can be viewed on youtube. This work was praised by several critics and it earned Albert a writeup/review in NYCs famous “Hot House” jazz magazine in the February 2022 edition. He was also written up in the “Jersey Jazz” magazine for this project.
When Albert started out in the Nyack music scene back in 2013, his first gig was with the esteemed “Frankie Dee,” a true legend of Rockland County. Albert played keyboards in Frankie’s house band for a year back in 2018. Albert also previously co-hosted open mics with his long time collaborator Debby Garfinkel at the Local Bar, Olives Bar, and the famed “Up Lounge” in Nyack. In 2019, Albert also co-hosted the famed “Casa Jam Sessions” at the Casa Del Sole bar in Nyack.
From January 2019 up until 2020, Albert led and hosted a fun and exciting Jazz Jam and Open Mic at the Juke Bar in the East Village. Many talented artists and musicians dropped in to sing and perform at this Jam including Albert’s longtime friend and jazz vocalist Julienne Marshall. Albert has also been the house pianist and piano bar entertainer at the Division Street Grill in Peekskill, Ny for the past 7 years and has been a house entertainer for the outdoor summer Division Street music series for the past 6 years as well, where he will often perform with swing trios and occasionally his full swing band.
In the summer of 2018, Albert performed on the Norwegian Cruise Lines for a 3 week tour which sailed to Cuba and the Bahamas. While on board, Albert performed with the stage band, doing classic rock arrangements with a full singing and dancing cast, as well as performing with Jazz trios and quartets in the lounges.
In grad school, upon developing a passion for swing and traditional jazz music in contrast to more modern styles of jazz, Albert took it upon himself to form a swing jazz trio, initially consisting of electric keyboard/left hand bass, trumpet, and drums, with friends Jordan Rincheria and Alex Aitken. They played monthly in Piermont for a year and then later in 2019 the group turned into a Quintet with three horns as Albert honed his jazz arranging skills, solidifying his typical arranging format of three part harmony among trumpet, alto and tenor sax.
In the summer of 2019, the group further developed into an 8 piece swing band with 2 of his long time sister friends “The Harrow Sisters” and lead singer Penelepe Voss joining the group as a female vocal trio reminiscent of the Andrews sisters. Their first show as a full band was at Casa Del Sole in Nyack where they still play regularly to this day. They are known as the “Ahlfabet Swing Group” and perform in Nyack, NYC, Peekskill, Pearl River, and other neighboring areas. Several videos of performances can be found online, with new music coming soon. The current lead singer of the group is Kimberly Hawkey, an esteemed Jazz Vocalist from Nyack, NY.
Today, Albert continues to perform, educate, record, and arrange music mostly within the styles of Swing, Jazz, Blues, Gospel, and occasionally Classical! His music/performances can be listened to and viewed on soundcloud, youtube, and streaming platforms such as Spotify.