Al is a retired federal public servant, but more importantly, a died-in-the-wool folkie who has played the acoustic guitar since age 16.  Once retirement provided some leisure time, he picked up the 5-string banjo, mandolin and trombone.  When one of the bands he played with needed a rhythm section, he also picked up the electric bass.  These days he plays bass with A Touch of Klez and several other bands.