Firehouse 12 to Present the Ben Allison Quartet December 1st

Ben Allison, bass and guitar; Ron Horton, trumpet and flugelhorn; Steve Cardenas, guitar; Michael Sarin, drums

Acclaimed bassist/composer Ben Allison will bring his quartet to New Haven's Firehouse 12 on Friday, December 1st in support of his latest CD, Cowboy Justice (Palmetto). The disc represents the first steps by his newest and smallest group to date and has been a mainstay on jazz radio since its release earlier this year. This performance will feature trumpeter Ron Horton, guitarist Steve Cardenas and drummer Michael Sarin.

“Cowboy Justice, with its many colors and personal sense of adventure, comes highly recommended," declared AllAboutJazz.com reviewer Jim Santella. Other critics agreed, writing, “His strength lies in composing, leading and putting out great records like Cowboy Justice“ (Steve Greenlee, JazzTimes), “There's no denying his musical genius" (Steve Garmhausen, Newark Star-Ledger), and “Allison's new quartet may well have one of the most original sounds and conceptions in 21st Century jazz" (George Kanzler, Hot House).

Allison's high-level of work over the past decade has earned him a reputation as “one of today's best young jazz musicians" (Boston Globe). The New Haven native's CDs regularly appear on best-of lists in a variety of national publications, and for the past three years he has been a fixture on both Down Beat's critics' and readers' polls in a variety of categories. In addition, he is the founder of the Jazz Composers Collective, a New York-based, musician-run non-profit, through which he has produced more than 100 concerts and events, including its internationally renowned annual festival. He has also appeared as a sideman on more than 25 recordings and written music for theater, film, television and radio. Learn more at http://www.benallison.com

About Firehouse 12:

Firehouse 12 is an award winning full-service bar, state-of-the-art recording studio and unusually intimate performance space located in New Haven's historic Ninth Square District. Painstakingly renovated over the course of four years by owner/producer/ engineer Nick Lloyd and Gray Organschi Architecture, this once-abandoned firehouse building has become a major part of New Haven's cultural renaissance since opening its doors in April 2005. It has also quickly gained a reputation as one of the premier recording studios and creative music venues on the East Coast.

A 2006 Best Studio Design Project nominee for the prestigious Technical Excellence and Creativity (TEC) Awards, the recording studio features world-class acoustic design by renowned acoustician John Storyk of Walters-Storyk Design Group. The striking 1200- square foot space features a Steinway concert grand piano, and doubles as an 80-seat public venue with unparalleled technical possibilities for some of the most respected names in creative music. Past performers include Han Bennink, Tim Berne, Dave Douglas, Susie Ibarra, Joe McPhee, Joe Morris, William Parker and Mario Pavone among many others.

In a June 2005 feature, New Haven Independent's Regina DeAngelo called Firehouse 12 “a north star in the jazz firmament that might well guide music lovers to New Haven from far away." She went on to write, “fabric-covered walls are angled to urge music to flow, not bounce, through a womb-like space. It's almost like sitting in the hull of an instrument. Luckily, the Firehouse attracts people who bring near-religious reverence to the music, producing an exchange of energy that often fires great performances." James Keepnews of the New Haven Advocate echoed DeAngelo's praise, calling the venue a “remarkable new cultural outpost" and “a resounding success." Yale University's Associate Vice President of New Haven and State Affairs Michael Morand recently called the space “a wonderful addition to New Haven's role as the cultural capital of Connecticut."

Complete Fall 2006 Concert Season:

09/22 :: Matthew Shipp
09/29 :: Carla Marciano 4tet
10/06 :: David Berkman Quartet
10/13 :: Nate Wooley and Blue Collar
10/20 :: Andrew Cyrille/Odean Pope Duo
10/27 :: Pete Robbins and Centric
11/04 :: Dave Allen Quartet
11/10 :: Stephen Haynes and Bugaboo
11/17 :: Dominique Eade/Jed Wilson Duo
12/01 :: Ben Allison Quartet
12/08 :: Wayne Escoffery Quartet
12/15 :: Gerald Cleaver & Violet Hour