Albert Ahlf Bio:
Albert Ahlf is a virtuoso pianist, a vocalist, an arranger, jazz historian, and music teacher based out of Rockland County, Ny.  He has years of experience going all the way back to junior year at Tappan Zee HS when he first started gigging as a sideman at various Jazz gigs. In 2011 while Albert was a senior at TZHS, he auditioned for NYSSMA and was selected out of 1000s for the jazz piano chair in the Allstate Jazz Ensemble where he got to perform at the Eastman School of Music.  After High School, he went off to music school and studied Jazz performance at Ithaca College for one year in which he then transferred to SUNY Purchase for the remainder of his degree.  While at Purchase he got to study with and work 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 would transcribe and learn by ear Jazz piano solos by music legends such as Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson, and Chick Corea while being expected by Faddis to play these solos (which at times would be 5 minutes in length) with 99% accuracy leaving just 1 percent for margin of error.  In this class, Albert would learn solos sometimes within only a few days which would impress his professor and private instructor Andy Laverne who would often comment by saying most people would take months to learn these solos.  When Albert was a senior at SUNY Purchase, he got to perform at Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola and The Blue Note Jazz clubs in the city with the esteemed Purchase Jazz Orchestra (PJO).  Albert got to play alongside legends Gary Bartz and Jerry Dogen who had joined PJO for these performances as guest artists.  
Albert’s first real performances though were in the Reformed Church of America where he has been an active member and performer since junior year of high school when he was recruited to be the pianist and music director at the intimate Piermont Reformed Church in Piermont, Ny pastored by John Vandenoever.  He recently was ordained as a Deacon at this church and he enjoys bringing traditional jazz inspired gospel music into the church.  
After undergrad, Albert went on to pursue a graduate degree in Music Education at Hunter College in NYC.  During his time at Hunter, he also focused on building his Jazz arranging skills and on building his knowledge of Jazz history leading him to now be an expert in both areas along with his expertise in performing and entertaining crowds.  While at hunter after his night classes, he would voyage down to the Jazz clubs in the village and sit in the fun Jam sessions that would happen very late at night.  Jazz pianist Brad Meldau once touched Albert’s hair at Mezzrow Jazz Club and said that his hair was “very nice”, and he also said to Albert that he really liked his playing. Around this time period Albert became well acquainted with Jazz and Classical virtuoso pianist and singer Dave Budway, owner of Maureen’s Jazz Cellar in Nyack Ny.  For the past 6 years Albert has been a frequent performer at the Jazz Club and he has contributed greatly to the Open Mic that happens every Tuesday night which is now known as the “Frosty” open mic (in tribute to the great former host Forest Lawson).  At the current time, Albert is a first call fill in as the main host when the owner Dave Budway can’t make it.  When Albert hosts the Maureen’s open mic, he accompanies singers and instrumentalists, MCs, and runs the soundboard while also managing to entertain everyone. Albert has also worked extensively doing various private gigs as a solo pianist ranging from playing for weddings, cocktail hours, and corporate events.  He regularly plays piano for private functions at the esteemed “Roost” in Sparkill, Ny.  
Also highly worth noting, 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 “Franky D” who is a true legend of Rockland County.  Every wednesday Franky hosts a Funk and Jazz Motown styled Jam at Olive’s in Nyack.  Albert played keyboards in this house band for 1 year back in 2018.  Albert has also used to co-host open mics with his long time singer friend Debby Garfinkel at the Local Bar, Olives Bar, and the famed “Up Lounge” in Nyack prior to the covid shutdown in 2020. While co-hosting these open mics, Albert would accompany singers and instrumentalists by playing keyboards and “keyboard” bass at the same time.  During 2019, Albert also co-hosted the famed “Casa Jam Sessions” at the Casa Del Sole bar in Nyack.  Also most notable, from January 2019 up until the new year of 2020, Albert led and hosted a fun and exciting Jazz Jam and Open Mic at the Juke Bar in the east village.  Various talented artists and musicians would drop 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 he 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 summer of 2018, Albert performed on the Norwegian Cruise Lines for a 3 week stint which sailed to Cuba and the Bahamas.  While on board, Albert performed with the stage band doing classic rock arrangements with a full singer and dance cast as well as performing with Jazz trios and quartets in the lounges.  
While in grad school, Albert, upon developing a passion for swing and traditional jazz music in contrast to more modern styles of jazz, took it upon himself to form a swing jazz trio which initially consisted of electric keyboard/left hand bass, trumpet, and drums with his friends Jordan Rincheria and Alex Aitken.  They played a monthly stint in Piermont for a year and then later in 2019 the group turned into a Quintet with three horns while Albert was honing his jazz arranging skills where he would then solidify 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 they perform in Nyack, NYC, Peekskill, Pearl River, and other neighboring towns.  Several of their videos and performances can be watched online and they are set to release some new music soon.  The current lead singer of the group is Kimberly Hawkey, who is 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.