The Jazzletter

Tenor Saxophonist, Harry Allen

by Gene Lees
July 30, 1997

Stan Getz was once asked his idea of the perfect tenor saxophone soloist. His answer (pianist Lou Levy was present and heard it) was, “My technique, Al Cohn's ideas, and Zoot's time."The fulfillment of that ideal may well be embodied in thirty-year-old Harry Allen, who is so good that after several takes of a tune on a record date, arranger and composer Johnny Mandel said from the control booth, Harry, would you mind screwing up on some of ...