Born in Irvine, Scotland, Alyn began studying drums at the age of thirteen. In 1995 Alyn won a scholarship to study at Berklee College of Music, but instead opted to remain in Scotland, studying music at Strathclyde University.

Alyn’s approach to music, technical capability and stylistic diversity has allowed him to become one of the UK’s most versatile and in-demand drummers. He has performed with such artists as Joe Lovano, John Scofield, Gary Burton, Seamus Blake, Kurt Elling, Bobby Wellins, Eric Alexander, Gunther Schuller, Bill Evans, Arild Andersen, Laurence Cottle, Marti Pellow, Justin Currie, Isobel Campbell, Mark Lanegan, Karen Matheson, Eddi Reader, Sandi Thom, Wolfstone, Phil Cunningham, Tommy Smith, Paul Towndrow and many more.

In 2009 Alyn recorded his debut album for Linn Records, ‘Lyn’s Une’. Comprising entirely original compositions, it featured outstanding contributions from Tommy Smith, Jason Rebello, Paul Towndrow, Ryan Quigley, David Dunsmuir, Ross Hamilton and Maureen McMullan.

Alyn has appeared on numerous recordings, including:

The Guardian’ with Shirley Bassey.
Stereocanto’ Fraser Fifield
The Green Machine’ Martin Green
A Hundred Thousand Welcomes’ Runrig’s Brian Hurren.
Water and Light’ and ‘Chasing Light’ Gareth Davies Jones
Dreamsville’ Carol Kidd
Whatever, Sincerely’ Killer Shrimp
A Thousand Questions Why’ and ‘Ashes and Gold’ Yvonne Lyon
Looking Back, Moving Forward’ Maggie Reilly
Too Long Away’ Emily Smith
Torah’ Tommy Smith and the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra
Karma’ Tommy Smith
Newology’ Paul Towndrow
Big Like this
The Unusual Suspects
Car Guitar Star’ Daniel Wylie

Alyn is resident drummer with the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, and the jazz drum tutor for the Royal Conservatoire.