Born: October 12, 1966 Primary Instrument: Saxophone
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.
“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
“Harry Allen'splaying is nothing less than perfect” --John Pizzarelli
“Harry Allen is fantastic. He plays both modern and yet in the grand tradition” --Steve Allen
Harry Allen, Jazz For The Soul (McMahon Jazz Medicine, 2005)
Harry Allen, Tenors Anyone? (Slider Music, 2004)
Harry Allen, Plays The Musical Hits (Tombstone, 2004)
Harry Allen, Just You, Just Me (BMG, 2003)
Harry Allen, Here's To Zoot (BMG, 2001)
Harry Allen, Love Songs Live! (Nagel-Heyer, 2000)
Harry Allen, Plays Ellington Songs (RCA, 2000)
Harry Allen, I Won't Dance (RCA, 1999)
Harry Allen, Day Dream (RCA, 1999)
Harry Allen, Harry Allen Meets The John Pizzarelli Trio (RCA, 1999)
Harry Allen, Duo (Novus, 1998)
Harry Allen, A Little Touch of Harry (Mastermix, 1997)
Harry Allen, Live At Renouf's (Mastermix, 1996)
Harry Allen, I'll Never Be The Same (Mastermix, 1995)
Harry Allen, Someone To Light Up My Life (Mastermix, 1995)
Harry Allen, I Know That You Know (Mastermix, 1995)
Harry Allen, Blue Skies (John Marks, 1994)
Harry Allen, Celebration of Billy Strayhorn's Music (Progressive, 1994)
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