Jazz Articles about Harry Allen

The State of Harry Allen 2010

by C. Michael Bailey
February 16, 2010

Tenor saxophonist Harry Allen is a keeper of the flame. His understated and well- studied saxophone style covers everyone from Frankie Trumbauer to Coleman Hawkins. He is a scholar of melody and vibe, and has the keen ability to interpret standards with an uncanny and swinging precision that should be used as the standard for jazz saxophone. Allen has many notable releases, including, in 2009-2010, New York State of Mind and his appearance on Nilson Matta's Copacabana.

Harry ...

Harry Allen: New York State of Mind

by Raul d'Gama Rose
January 30, 2010

The big, fat, warm and tender tone of Harry Allen's tenor saxophone is impossible to miss. There is no one who sounds quite like him, and that is probably because no other saxophonist has embraced the tenor horn in a similar way. No one since Coleman Hawkins and Ben Webster has mined the wealth of that instrument for its burnished elegant timbre except Harry Allen. Following the success of Hits by Brits (Challenge Records, 2007), comes New York State of ...

Harry Allen: New York State of Mind

by Woodrow Wilkins
January 13, 2010

New York City has been the setting of numerous television series and movies. It has also inspired many songs. Tenor saxophonist Harry Allen captures some of that essence with New York State of Mind, named for pop singer Billy Joel's composition. Allen, 43, was born in Washington, D.C. and raised in both Los Angeles, California, and Burriville, Rhode Island. He has been a sideman to John Pizzarelli and performed at festivals and clubs worldwide. His associations include Rosemary ...

Harry Allen-Joe Cohen Quartet with Rebecca Kilgore and Eddie Erickson: The Harry Allen-Joe Cohn Quartet Plays Music From South Pacific

by Andrew Velez
November 10, 2009

The days when recordings were routinely issued covering a current Broadway hit musical are long past. Fortunately no one told that to Arbors Records. With Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific enjoying a smash revival, here comes the Harry Allen/Joe Cohn Quartet and vocalists Rebecca Kilgore and Eddie Erickson with innovative, knockout performances of one of the greatest of all Broadway scores. With a voice filled with smiles for miles, Kilgore proves to be pinpoint perfect, delightfully inhabiting ...

Bending the Mainstream: Harry Allen, Nicki Parrott & Eddie Metz Jr.

by Elliott Simon
July 4, 2009

Nicki ParrottFly Me to the MoonVenus Records2009 The Eddie Metz Jr. TrioBridging the GapArbors Records2008 Stan Getz characterized the challenge that tenor saxophonists face as singing perfectly on an imperfect instrument. Harry Allen takes up Getz' challenge with a beautiful instrumental voice that hearkens back to the wonderfully vocal playing of the master himself. ...

The Harry Allen-Joe Cohn Quartet: Stompin' The Blues

by Andrew Velez
July 14, 2008

The Harry Allen-Joe Cohn Quartet has been a happily-going entity for over five years. At this point its easy interplay radiates a joyful and a profound understanding of decades of jazz. The musicians know what they're doing and have fun doing it. This latest collaboration mixes some of saxophonist Allen's own tunes with some beauties from the Great American Songbook, of which Allen, with more than 40 previous recordings to his credit, is a master (see the quartet's previous release, ...

Harry Allen: Hits by Brits & Guys and Dolls

by Andrew Velez
January 6, 2008

Harry Allen Hits By Brits Challenge 2007 Harry Allen-Joe Cohn Quartet Guys and Dolls Arbors 2007

When it comes to giving standards a distinctly refreshed Swing Era spin, mainstream tenor sax ace Harry Allen is a nonpareil gem repolisher. On Hits by Brits he and a quartet salute songs popularized by ...