Alex Bernath drums.booking.tour-management.

Cologne-based drummer, musical director, and founder of the Alexander Agency, Alex Bernath moves fluidly across borders and genres, combining his work in booking and tour management with a deep-rooted musical practice. A seasoned collaborator with legends like Fred Wesley, Chris Potter, Ray Greene, and Jamal Thomas, his sound thrives where Jazz, Funk/ Soul & World music intersect.
With over 20 years of experience, Alex blends a wide spectrum of influences into a signature groove that is both versatile and unmistakable.


BIO


Alex Bernath – Drummer, Composer, Producer & Founder of the Alexander Agency


Born in Mannheim, Germany in 1986, Alex Bernath’s musical journey began at age 12 in classical orchestras and big bands. At 19, he moved to the Netherlands to study jazz drums at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, receiving mentorship from renowned drummers Eric Ineke (Dexter Gordon, Lee Konitz) and Stefan Kruger (Caro Emerald). A defining moment of his studies was performing with Branford Marsalis and the Royal Conservatory Big Band.


During his time in The Hague, Alex co-founded the Wojtek Justyna TreeOh! with Polish guitarist Wojtek Justyna. The group has since released three albums and toured extensively across Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, India, Canada, and South Korea.


In 2006, Alex began studying with Jamal Thomas (Maceo Parker, SOS Band) and later co-founded The Jamal Thomas Band in 2009. Together, they released three albums and performed globally, collaborating with legends such as Fred Wesley (James Brown, Tina Turner) and Chuck Leavell (The Rolling Stones). Their final album, co-composed, produced, and arranged by Alex, will be released in 2025 as a tribute to Jamal, who passed away in 2022.


It was during the production of that final album that Alex met vocalist and trombonist Ray Greene (Carlos Santana, Tower of Power). Their immediate musical connection led to a close collaboration, with Alex taking on the roles of booking agent and drummer for Ray’s solo project. From 2023 to 2025, Alex successfully booked 43 concerts across Europe, helping to launch Ray Greene’s solo career on the international stage.


This partnership inspired the launch of the Alexander Agency in 2022—a Cologne-based international booking and tour management agency specializing in Funk, Soul, Jazz, and World music. The agency builds bridges between exceptional global talent and forward-thinking promoters.


Alex’s work and voice were recently featured in the May 2025 NPR Music article, “Aggressive Immigration Enforcement Makes Musicians Rethink U.S. Tours”, where he shares insight into the growing challenges faced by international touring artists. NPR highlights his perspective as part of a global network of agents and musicians navigating tightening visa regulations and shifting borders for performance.


Beyond these milestones, Alex remains an active touring drummer, performing worldwide with a wide array of groups and productions. He also collaborates on orchestral, theatrical, and musical productions, and works closely with the Hapag-Lloyd cruise fleet, curating performance lineups and connecting world-class artists to luxury stages at sea.


A proud Zildjian and Vic Firth artist, Alex’s compositional work has received international acclaim, with features in Jazzthing, Soultrainonline.de, and Sticks magazine. His music has been included in the Deutsche Schallplattenkritik Bestenliste and earned the title of Best Jazz Album of Poland 2018.


photo by Roger Salem

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Interview feature:

NPR Music-Interview


As featured in NPR Music’s article “Aggressive immigration enforcement makes musicians rethink U.S. tours”, Alex Bernath, founder of Alexander Agency, shares insight into the growing challenges faced by international touring artists. NPR highlights his perspective as part of a global network of agents and musicians grappling with rising visa obstacles and the shifting landscape of cross-border performance.


Read the full article and the very important  stories of my colleagues at:
https://www.npr.org/2025/05/12/g-s1-65451/international-musicians-tours-visa-issues-border-patrol