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John Allred: Focused

By Joel Roberts
October 1, 1998
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On his first album for AppleJazz Records, trombonist John Allred serves notice that an important new jazz artist has arrived. The Florida-born musician has complete mastery of his instrument and chops that can compete with most any trombonist on the jazz scene today. He plays with a fluidity and finesse you don't normally hear on the trombone. Backed by a fine rhythm section of Kelly Sill on bass, Eddie Metz on drums, and the exceptional pianist Richard Drexler, Allred delivers an impressive debut effort that bodes well for the future.

Allred's sensibilities are solidly mainstream, and he sticks to a mostly standard repertoire of warhorses like "On the Street Where You Live," "But Beautiful," and "My Romance," plus more contemporary compositions by Dave Brubeck, Keith Jarrett, and Don Sebesky. He shows his talents as an arranger on a fresh take on "Love for Sale," which interpolates the refrain from the Dizzy Gillespie/Chano Pozo Latin-jazz gem "Manteca" into the Cole Porter classic. Allred also shows promise as a composer, offering four originals ranging from the breezy ballad "My Inclination" to the up-tempo bebop of the title tune. Definitely an artist to watch.

Personnel

John Allred: trombone.

Album information

Title: Focused | Year Released: 1998 | Record Label: Apple Jazz Records

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