A resident of Los Angeles, Alan Pasqua began studying piano at the age of seven in his native New Jersey, playing both classical and jazz. He attended Indiana University and The New England Conservatory of Music, studying with Jaki Bayard, Thad Jones, George Russell, and Gunther Schuller.
In 1976, Pasqua, along with guitarist Alan Holdsworth, joined The New Tony Williams Lifetime; the two recordings that ensued (Believe It and Million Dollar Legs) have been critically acclaimed as cornerstones in the development of fusion. Since then, Pasqua has played with a broad spectrum of jazz musicians, including Joe Henderson, Stanley Clarke, Gary Burton, James Moody, Gary Peacock, Ralph Simon, Eddie Daniels, Peter Erskine, Jack DeJohnette, John Patitucci, Reggie Workman, Art Davis, The Thad Jones - Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra, Sam Rivers, Sheila Jordan, Joe Williams, Frank Foster, Alphonso Johnson, Narada Michael Walden, Les McCann, and Don Ellis.
In 1994, Postcards released Pasqua's debut date as a leader, Milagro, which received much critical acclaim, including a 4 1/2-star review in Down Beat. Pasqua's second release on Postcards is entitled Dedications and features bassist Dave Holland and drummer Paul Motian (who are rarely heard together on recordings) Michael Brecker (on tenor saxophone) Randy Brecker (on trumpet) and Gary Bartz (on alto saxophone).
