Allen, Harry

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Harry Allen

Saxophonist

While young jazz players have made their names by relying on new sounds and novel techniques, tenor saxophonist Harry Allen has pursued his craft the old-fashioned way. His inspiration reaches back, before post-bop and fusion of the 1960s and 1970s, to connect with Stan Getz, Zoot Sims, and other prominent players who began their careers during the 1940s and 1950s. "When I was in school there was sort of a feeling like ‘John Coltrane is hip and nobody else is,’" he told Jason Crane in All About Jazz. "That's certainly not the case. John Coltrane is hip and so is Coleman Hawkins. It seems maybe there's an acceptance that all styles are relevant."

Allen, who recorded his first date as a leader by the age of 21, has released 30-plus albums, won multiple awards and readers' polls, and has performed with jazz greats Kenny Burrell, Herb Ellis, Ray Brown, and Hank Jones. "For those jazz aficionados who love the melodic, mainstream approach to the tenor saxophone-better known as the ‘classical’ sound-Harry Allen has been its reigning prince for the past 16 years," wrote Stephen Fratallone in Jazz Connection Magazine.

Allen was born on October 12, 1966, in Washington, D.C., but grew up in California and Rhode Island. His father was a jazz drummer, and even before Harry was in kindergarten the elder Allen played jazz records for his son. "I learned to love [jazz] so much," he told Crane, "that when I finally was at an age where I was hanging out with kids who were listening to rock and roll, I heard it and thought, ‘What the hell is that?’" At seven Allen began accordion lessons, and at 12 he started playing the saxophone. He played in his middle and high school bands, and when away from music, he played baseball. "By the end of high school," he told Crane, "it seemed like I had a better shot making it as a musician than as a baseball player."

Following high school Allen attended Rutgers University in New Jersey, less because of the school's music program than because of its relaxed scheduling. He believed it was important to earn a degree, but he also wanted time to frequent the nightclub scene in New York City and hear other musicians. Allen focused on classwork during the day and caught the train into the city at night. By visiting the clubs he was able to find work—so much work, in fact, that he considered dropping out of Rutgers. Allen persevered nonetheless, and in 1988 received his bachelor's degree in music.

After college Allen toured Europe several times with Oliver Jackson. Jackson took the young saxophone player under his wing, teaching him performance skills and introducing him to European promoters. In New York City Allen played at weddings and parties with singer-guitarist John Pizzarelli and was allowed, thanks to Pizzarelli's father, Bucky, to sit in on rehearsals with famed clarinetist Benny Goodman and saxophonist Scott Hamilton. Allen recorded his first album as a leader for Progressive in 1988, How Long Has This Been Going On?, at the age of 20 or 21. "It was really nerve-wracking," Allen told Crane. "I remember saying to Major Holley, ‘Do I sound a little nervous? Does my saxophone sound a little nervous?’ He was a big, gruff guy, and he said, ‘Well, do you feel nervous?’ I said, ‘Yeah!’"

In 1993 Nagel-Heyer released A Night at Birdland, Vol. 1 and A Night at Birdland, Vol. 2, both featuring live performances by Allen in the company of trumpeter Randy Sandke, pianist Brian Dee, and bassist Len Skeat. "Allen has an attractive and passionate tone and is heard in excellent form throughout the nine standards," wrote Scott Yanow in All Music Guide. Allen followed with Jazz im Amerika Haus, Vol. 1 in 1994, another live set. "His appealing sound and solid sense of swing are well showcased," wrote Yanow. In the mid-1990s Allen recorded a series of albums for the Mastermix label, including I Know That You Know (1995), Someone to Lighten Me (1995), and A Little Touch of Harry (1997).

In 1999 and 2000 Allen recorded three albums for RCA, Harry Allen Meets the John Pizzarelli Trio, I Won't Dance, and Plays Ellington Songs. Of the latter album, Michael G. Nastos wrote in All Music Guide, "Allen's tenor sax sound is perfectly suited for the music of Duke Ellington." After recording Love Songs Live! for Nagel-Heyer in 2000, Allen cut a series of albums for BMG, including Here's To Zoot and Cole Porter Songs. "The music I play is happy music," Allen told Fratallone. "It's happier and it makes people feel good. So, maybe for that reason it has endured longer. Time will tell."

In 2006 Allen and guitarist Joe Cohn released Hey, Look Me Over on the traditional jazz label Arbors. The recording was augmented by Allen's working band, bassist Joe Forbes and drummer Chuck Riggs, who provided a steady underpinning on both original numbers and classics like Benny Goodman and Charlie Christian's "Seven Come Eleven." Edward Blanco wrote in All About Jazz, "Playing a selection of jazz standards favoring the harmonious marriage of the tenor and guitar, Allen and Cohn fashion ten tracks of brisk and mellow music with a good dose of swing." The Jazz Journalist Association nominated the Harry Allen-Joe Cohn Quartet as the best small ensemble band of 2006.

Allen's record of accomplishments is an impressive feat for a jazz player only in his early forties. He has won three gold disc awards from Swing Journal Magazine and has toured throughout the United States, Europe, and the Far East. Besides his own recordings, he has appeared on multiple recordings by other artists, including Tony Bennett, Jake Hanna, and Sheryl Crow. While Allen's style may evoke the sounds of yesterday, his hallmark as a musician remains change and growth. "I never try to play something the same way," Allen told Crane. "Nothing drives me crazy like a gig where I have to play the same set every set, which sometimes happens. I hate that. I like to do it differently and find new things to do and make it interesting. If it's not interesting for me, I can't see where it would be interesting for anybody listening."

For the Record …

Born Harry Allen on October 12, 1966, in Washington, D.C. Education: Rutgers University, bachelor of arts degree in music, 1988.

Recorded debut as a leader, How Long Has This Been Going On?, 1988; released A Night at Birdland, Vol. 1 and A Night at Birdland, Vol. 2, 1993, and Jazz im Amerika Haus, Vol. 1, 1994; issued a series of albums for Mastermix, including I Know That You Know and Someone to Lighten Me, 1995, and A Little Touch of Harry, 1997; recorded three albums for RCA, Harry Allen Meets the John Pizzarelli Trio, I Won't Dance, and Plays Ellington Songs, 1999-2000; recorded a series of albums for BMG including Here's To Zoot and Cole Porter Songs, 2001; issued Hey, Look Me Over with the Harry Allen-Joe Cohn Quartet, 2006; released Turnstile, 2007.

Addresses: Record company—Arbors Records, 2189 Cleveland St., Ste. 225, Clearwater, FL 33765, phone: 727-466-0571, website: Arbors Records Website: http://www.arborsrecords.com.