Home » Jazz Musicians » Harry Allen

Harry Allen

Gene Lees writes, "Stan Getz was once asked his idea of the perfect tenor saxophone soloist. His answer 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."

BMG recording artist Harry Allen has over twenty recordings to his name. Three of Harry's CDs have won Gold Disc Awards from Japan's Swing Journal Magazine, and his CD Tenors Anyone? won both the Gold Disc Award and the New Star Award. His recordings have made the top ten list for favorite new releases in Swing Journal Magazine's reader's poll and Jazz Journal International's critic's poll for 1997, and Eu Nao Quero Dancar (I Won't Dance), the third Gold Disc Award winner, was voted second for album of the year for 1998 by Swing Journal Magazine‚s reader‚s poll.

Harry has performed at jazz festivals and clubs worldwide, frequently touring the United States, Europe, and the Far East. He has performed with Rosemary Clooney, Ray Brown, Hank Jones, Frank Wess, Flip Phillips, Scott Hamilton, Harry 'Sweets' Edison, Kenny Burrell, Herb Ellis, John Pizzarelli, Bucky Pizzarelli, Gus Johnson, Jeff Hamilton, Terry Gibbs, Warren Vache, and has recorded with Tony Bennett, Johnny Mandel, Ray Brown, Tommy Flanagan, James Taylor, Sheryl Crow, Kenny Barron, Dave McKenna, Dori Caymmi, Larry Goldings, George Mraz, Jake Hanna, and Al Foster, among others.

Harry is featured on many of John Pizzarelli's recordings including the soundtrack and an on-screen cameo in the feature film The Out of Towners starring Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn. He has also done a series of commercials for ESPN starring Robert Goulet.

Harry was born in Washington D.C. in 1966, and was raised in Los Angeles, CA and Burrillville, RI. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in music in 1988 from Rutgers University in New Jersey, and currently resides in New York City.

Tags

"Rhythmic edge and endless flow of ideas...a first division tenor player" —Martin Gayford, The Daily Telegraph

"Rich and Satisfying when he's balladeering, mind blowing when he's cooking" —Martin Richards, Jazz Journal

"a practitioner of such dense talent he sounds as if he invented tenor saxophone performance instead of Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young. Allen is the Frank Sinatra of the tenor saxophone: a master interpreter of standards" —C. Michael Bailey

"...his tremendous tenor sax playing...endlessly inventive and with a flood of original ideas...his tone and execution are always superb" —Eddie Cook, Jazz Journal

Read more

Photos

Albums

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

With Roses

Triangle7
2023

buy

The Terry Gibbs...

Whaling City Sound
2023

buy

Pretty World

Blue Line Music
2022

buy

From The Pen Of...

Cellar Records
2022

buy

Videos

Similar

Nat King Cole
piano and vocals
Joe Lovano
saxophone
Diana Krall
piano and vocals
Ben Webster
saxophone, tenor
Houston Person
saxophone, tenor
Dave Liebman
saxophone, soprano
Gerry Mulligan
saxophone, baritone
Stanley Turrentine
saxophone, tenor
Ravi Coltrane
saxophone, tenor

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.