BIOGRAPHY
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.
'Deze plaat is conventioneel, maar aangenaam om naar te luisteren.' - John Bruinsma.
'This album is conventional, but pleasant to listen.' - John Bruinsma.
'The CD is again an enrichment of Harry Allen's dicography with an outstanding example for absolutely perfect and ageless Modern Swinging Mainstream Jazz.' - Gerhard Hopfe.
'This album is perfect for those who like to hear top quality songs treated in a respectfully intelligent and yet still virtuosic way.' - Patrick Johns.
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. -
Raul d'Gama Rose - www.allboutjazz.com
You don't have to be in a “New York State of Mind” to appreciate the music of Harry Allen's newest creative adventure with jazz as this friendly outing will confirm. -
By Edward Blanco
To be found; http://www.ejazznews.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=11047&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0
If you enjoy jazz at its relaxed best and recall the delights of New York's jazz clubs and in particular the Broadway jazz shows, this CD belongs in your collection. - Brian Hough
http://tonight.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=5327579&fSectionId=432&fSetId=251
" Tenor saxophonist Harry Allen takes the listener back to 1920s era New York City with this enjoyable set of old school classics"
Natuurlijk is de muziek uitermate prettig en gezellig, en voor wie dat de norm is koopt zich zeker geen buil aan deze cd. Sjoerd van Aelst - Jazzism - jan 2010
Of course the music is extremely pleasing and enjoyable, and if that is standard for you, this cd is a guarnteed best buy. Sjoerd van Aelst - Jazzism - jan 2010
Week 7: Down in the depths of the 90th floor # 14
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. Micheal Bailey - allaboutjazz.nl - feb 2010
'' Just absolutely damn beautiful. I happen to like this music, because i prefer my tenor neat without modal tonic water''
Alan Bargebuhr Cadence july/aug/sept 2010''Gewoon absoluut verdomd mooi. Ik hou gewoon van deze muziek, omdat ik liever mijn tenor zuiver heb, zonder standaard tonic water''
Alan Bargebuhr Cadence juli/aug/sept 2010
''Zijn muziek is een mix van swing, mainstream. Deze cd blijft van het begin tot het einde boeien. Absoluut aanschaffen deze cd als u van goede, smaakvolle mainstream swing houdt.''
Ben Kragting jr. Doctor Jazz Magazine juni 2010
''His music is a mix of swing, mainstream. This CD keeps interesting from beginning to the end. Definitely buy this CD if you like good, flavorful mainstream swing.''
Ben Kragting jr. Doctor Jazz Magazine juni 2010
"Harry Allen presents 13 wonderful classic ballads on his new release,
New York State Of Mind. His musical inspiration and inerpretive approach come from the giants and innovators of mainstream sax."
AccentMagazine February 2010"Harry Allen presenteert 13 prachtige klassieke ballads op zijn nieuwe album,
New York State Of Mind. Zijn muzikale inspiratie en inerpretive aanpak komen van de grotere en de vernieuwers van de mainstream sax."
AccentMagazine februari 2010
"Isn't he wonderful! When Allen plays his sax, he gives value to his musical pronouncements in that 'his music matters' as it were. He's a true poet of pop-jazz music."
George W Carroll Cabaret Exchange December 2009"Is hij niet geweldig! Als Allen zijn sax speelt, geeft hij waarde aan zijn muzikale uitspraken in 'zijn muziek zaken' als het ware. Hij is een echte dichter van pop-jazz muziek."
George W Carroll Cabaret Exchange december 2009
"The man can swing with the best. The resulting CD is a gem. Allen's sax is superb; his tone is lush perfection, and he's supported by an outstanding quartet of piano, bass, drums and trombone. Just wonderful swinging music."
Ric Bang Enterprise April 2010"De man kan swingen met de allerbeste. Deze resulterende CD is een juweeltje. Allen's sax is prachtig, zijn toon is van een weelderige perfectie, en hij wordt ondersteund door een uitstekend kwartet van piano, bas, drums en trombone. Gewoon prachtig swingende muziek."
Ric Bang Enterprise april 2010
"The result of course is one classic session of light and tasteful contemporary jazz with a measure of swing and a touch of elegance."
Edward Blanco Ejazznews January 2010"Het resultaat is natuurlijk een klassieke sessie van lichte en smaakvolle hedendaagse jazz met een maat van swing en een vleugje elegantie."
Edward Blanco Ejazznews januari 2010
"A young man with an old soul, the saxophonist is one of the great modern day interpreters of swing and displays an authoritative tone, big and brawny on up-tempo tracks."
Nicholas Bewsey Nick's Picks February 2010"Een jonge man met een oude ziel, de saxofonist is een van de grote hedendaagse vertolkers van swing en heeft een gezaghebbende toon, groot en gespierd op de up-tempo tracks."
Nicholas Bewsey Nick's Picks februari 2010
"His and Allred's virtuosity would shame more adventurous musicians, and they generate enough heat, swing and imagination to satisfy any mainstream fan."
Ray Comiskey The Irish Times December 2009"Zijn en Allred's virtuositeit zou meer avontuurlijke muzikanten beschamen, en ze genereren genoeg warmte, swing en verbeelding om elke mainstream fan tevreden te stellen."
Ray Comiskey The Irish Times december 2009
