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Al recounts growing up immersed in Latin clubs and jazz scenes, absorbing the rhythms and harmonies of genres that would later influence his playing style. An early fascination with percussion and Latin music roots his approach to rhythm and feel, emphasizing the importance of feeling the groove rather than just executing notes. Growing up listening to Sly and the Family Stone, Wayne Cochran, and James Jamerson, he attributes his rhythmic sophistication to these diverse influences, which he seamlessly incorporate into his instrumental language.