Jazz Articles about Brian Allen

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Ghalia Volt: Burn The House Down

by Doug Collette
May 17, 2026

It is certainly no coincidence that Ghalia Volt's adopted moniker suggests power, specifically the electric sort. Anglicized from the original Belgian, the name intimates dynamism, the likes of which have similarly pervaded her previous albums, such as One Woman Band (Ruf Records, 2021), though not to the same degree as Burn The House Down. The music on this sixth full-length record of hers crackles with a surplus of energy.  And considering the company this woman keeps here, that ...

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Brainkiller: The Infiltration

by AAJ Italy Staff
February 1, 2012

Se come diceva Zappa il jazz non è morto ma ha solo un buffo o strano odore, gli aromi, o meglio i profumi, che emanano da The Infiltration sono davvero unici. E non poteva essere diversamente visto che ci troviamo di fronte a un trio formato da trombone, tastiere elettriche, percussioni varie ed elettronica. Qui i nostri tre eroi, due americani doc e un argentino, il batterista Hernan Hecht, dimostrano di conoscere a memoria il mestiere di provocatori, intersecando Monk ...

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Brian Allen / Tony Malaby / Tom Rainey: Synapse

by Budd Kopman
October 31, 2006

Because the eight tracks on this disc are free improvisations, Synapse officially qualifies as “difficult" music. The structure, density, dynamics and overall timbre evolve as each track plays, and as such takes a bit more closer listening, even repeated listenings, to begin to follow what these three wonderful musicians are doing. The album has a very open sound since there is no chordal instrument, and not really even a rhythm instrument. Drummer Tom Rainey (heard this year ...

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Brian Allen with Tony Malaby and Tom Rainey: Synapse

by Glenn Astarita
October 3, 2006

Trombonist/composer Brian Allen aligns himself with the creme de la creme of New York City jazz musicians on this bass-less trio date. Synapse is a cleverly articulated effort; Allen nimbly handles the lower (bass line) register while toggling between his leadership and soloing duties. During nip and tuck dialogues, the band navigates an abundance of disparate time signatures.

Tenor saxophonist Tony Malaby pronounces fire and brimstone during most of this session as the band follows by an evolutionary ...

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Brian Allen/Jacob Koller: Brain Killer

by Jerry D'Souza
May 7, 2002

The winds of fate blew cold inside a Canadian airport where Brian Allen and Jacob Koller were tied up in red tape. Whatever the lack of merit in that infliction of figurative bondage, it did help to get the two closer together musically.

Allen and Koller are an interesting pair. There is an easy symbiosis, an oft-used term, but one that fits in well with this duo. What makes it all the more relevant is the way they ...

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Brian Allen: Solo Trombone

by Dave Nathan
July 1, 2001

Brian Allen is from Lake Jackson, Texas where part of this solo trombone album was recorded. He studied with some of the masters of avant-garde /free jazz such as Roswell Rudd and Ellery Eskelin. To state the obvious, solo trombone albums are not everyday occurrences and it takes a good deal of self-assurance to but one out on a CD. The leading practitioner is German avant-garde trombonist Albert Mangelsdorff with his CDs, Tromboneliness and Solo. These efforts, among others, encouraged ...