Home » Jazz Musicians » Allan Harris

Allan Harris

The outstanding and internationally renowned vocalist, guitarist and composer Allan Harris sums up his personal perspective on music in clear and straightforward terms. "There is nothing that I have found that defines and gives credence to my place in this wild and mysterious universe than this thing called music." Harris exemplifies that statement perfectly with his stunning new album Nobody's Gonna Love You Better (Black Bar Jukebox Redux), his eleventh album following on the heels of his highly acclaimed 2015 release Black Bar Jukebox.

For this, Harris takes an even more eclectic approach, drawing upon the wide range of music that he heard growing up in Brooklyn, and feasting on the expansive palette of the Harlem cultural landscape. "My new album captures some of the varied sounds and feelings that have shaped my growth as an artist. I had not one style to heavily rely upon when putting these tunes together, but only my young memories of music, people and events."

Nobody's Gonna Love You Better is a bold statement that builds upon the entire breadth of Harris' already esteemed reputation, demonstrating his enormous versatility within the full scope of his highly creative musical vision. Swinging jazz, rich R&B, sumptuous balladry, wailing rock, rumbling blues and even a touch of playful Brazilian are all woven seamlessly into the tapestry of a musical odyssey that is all Allan Harris. With a deeply resonant baritone/tenor voice that is soulful, richly expressive and flawless in both intonation and phrasing, Harris displays a total command and fluency in every context.

Back from the previous album are the GRAMMY Award-winning producer Brian Bacchus and Harris' longtime keyboard cohort Pascal Le Boeuf (on acoustic and electric pianos, and Hammond B3 organ), whose deep understanding and empathy for Harris' music creates a marvelous sense of intimacy and shared joy of expression. Pascal is also the primary instrumental soloist and delivers in an inspired fashion throughout. Joining Pascal in the exceptional rhythm section are Russell Hall on acoustic and electric bass, Shirazette Tinnin on drums and cajón, and Freddie Bryant on both electric and classical guitar. Together, with Harris also on acoustic, electric and resonator guitar, they provide impeccably flawless support, whether driving, embellishing, shaping or enhancing the settings as ideally suited to the intent of the music.

The delightful repertoire includes four Harris originals, a couple of American Songbook gems, a pair of jazz classics, and re-imaginations of hit songs from Jimi Hendrix, Steely Dan and Spiral Staircase. As he does with every lyric, Harris pays proper homage to those who have provided the inspiration for his own highly personal sound, specifically here to Ray Charles, Nat 'King' Cole and Eddie Jefferson on three individual items.

Read more

Tags

1
Album Review

Allan Harris: Live At The Blue LLama

Read "Live At The Blue LLama" reviewed by Dave Linn


Allan Harris has had a varied musical journey. Brooklyn-born, he grew up surrounded by the sounds of jazz, blues, and R&B. His mother often played records by artists like Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan. These influences shaped his musical sensibilities and inspired him to pursue a music career. He recorded his debut album, Setting The Standard (Love Records) in 1994 at the age of 38. Over the next 27 years, he released 12 more records ...

Multiple Reviews

La nicchia del canto jazz maschile

Read "La nicchia del canto jazz maschile" reviewed by Angelo Leonardi


A eccezione di pochi nomi--in particolare Kurt Elling, Gregory Porter, Bobby McFerrin e il veterano Tony Bennett--il canto jazz maschile è nettamente sottoesposto rispetto a quello femminile. Esempi eclatanti di questo sono stati Jon Hendricks e Mark Murphy, scomparsi di recente senza aver avuto la considerazione che meritavano. Allan Harris e Fred Farell sono due interpreti sessantenni dai percorsi e dalle coordinate stilistiche diverse ma accomunati da una carriera artistica di nicchia. Harris ha ottenuto il primo ...

3
New York @ Night

Allan Harris at SMOKE Jazz & Supper Club

Read "Allan Harris at SMOKE Jazz & Supper Club" reviewed by Peter Jurew


Allan Harris SMOKE Jazz & Supper Club New York, NY September 28, 2016 Allan Harris was born in Brooklyn to a tight-knit family that loved music. His mother was a classical piano prodigy who grew up in Harlem and graduated in the first class of the High School Of Performing Arts, along with her friend, Arthur Mitchell, the noted dancer, choreographer and co-founder of the Dance Theatre of Harlem. Allan grew up hearing a wide ...

20
Extended Analysis

Allan Harris & Takana Miyamoto: Convergence

Read "Allan Harris & Takana Miyamoto: Convergence" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey


Allan Harris & Takana MiyamotoConvergenceLove Production Records2012 A nostalgic trend that has gained traction in the last decade is that of bands (generally jam bands) performing “classic" rock albums live in their entirety, typically on Halloween or New Year's Eve. Some of the more notable examples of this include Phish's recent covers of the Rolling Stones' Exile on Main St. (Self Produced, 2009), Little Feat's Waiting for Columbus (Self Produced, 2010), ...

47
Album Review

Allan Harris & Takana Miyamoto: Convergence

Read "Convergence" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


The eternal bond between piano and voice in jazz was cemented long before pianist Bill Evans and vocalist Tony Bennett ever took to the studio together, but they elevated this union of sounds to artistic heights ne'er before attained. Bennett and Evans erased the notions of vocals on top and pianist-as-mere-accompanist with The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album (Fantasy, 1975) and its less glorified follow-up, Together Again (Improv, 1977). They created a synergy in song craft that few before or since ...

114
Album Review

Allan Harris: The Songs of Strayhorn

Read "The Songs of Strayhorn" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey


This writer finally gets Strayhorn.

Tony Bennett considers Allan Harris to be his favorite vocalist. That is almost as profound as Frank Sinatra considering Tony Bennett his favorite vocalist. Mr. Bennett heaps no faint praise on Mr. Harris. Allan Harris is a very accomplished vocalist devoid of all of the barking and groaning afflicting many young singers in jazz today. I would liken Mr. Harris is a higher-range Johnny Hartman. He is very much in the hip crooner category. And ...

99
Album Review

Allan Harris: The Songs of Strayhorn

Read "The Songs of Strayhorn" reviewed by Dave Nathan


Vocalist Allan Harris has daringly chosen to record an album dedicated solely to the compositions of Billy Strayhorn. Daring because, first, lyrics to Strayhorn tunes can be difficult to successfully put across to the listener; second, because they are mainly about unrequited unfilled love and are hardly ever cheerful, and third, several lyrics on the play list are rarely heard so will be unrecognizable to everyone except the most committed Strayhorn devotees. It turns out that these are not daunting ...

Read more articles
75

Video / DVD

Jazz Great Allan Harris Releases First Video From New CD

Jazz Great Allan Harris Releases First Video From New CD

Source: Allan Harris

New York, NY:  Award-winning jazz vocalist Allan Harris releases the first video from his new CD Open Up Your Mind (released 9/13/11 Love Productions Records).  The video's song entitled “Can't Live My Life Without You" is written by Harris and is the first track on his new CD. The video was shot in black and white in two of New York City's hottest nightclubs—Smoke Jazz and BB King Blues Club, and also on the streets of NYC.  Michael Chow, the producer ...

284

Performance / Tour

Vocalist Allan Harris Releases New Christmas CD: “Dedicated to You… a Nat King Cole Christmas”

Vocalist Allan Harris Releases New Christmas CD: “Dedicated to You… a Nat King Cole Christmas”

Source: Allan Harris

Jazz vocalist Allan Harris has just released a new Christmas CD, entitled Dedicated to You, Allan Harris Sings a Nat King Cole Christmas. This CD was recorded in front of a live studio audience at KUVO radio in Denver, CO and includes a rare holiday gem called “The Little Boy that Santa Claus Forgot." Arturo Gomez, KUVO Music Director says, “I gave Allan a copy of Nat Cole's original recording and Allan just fell in love with it. I knew ...

131

Performance / Tour

Allan Harris to Perform at Pittsburgh Steelers 75th Season Celebration Gala

Allan Harris to Perform at Pittsburgh Steelers 75th Season Celebration Gala

Source: Impress Media - Jennifer Niederhoffer

Vocalist asked to entertain fans and guests with his Nat “King" Cole tribute on November 4th

Vocalist Allan Harris will perform at the Pittsburgh Steelers' 75th Season Celebration Gala, taking place at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center on Sunday, November 4, 2007. Harris was invited to sing the music of his Nat “King" Cole tribute to this celebratory event. Emcee Steve Sabol, President of NFL Films, will host the gala, which will honor the Steelers All-Time Time as voted ...

135

Performance / Tour

Allan Harris Brings a Jazzy Christmas to St. Albans Congregational Church

Allan Harris Brings a Jazzy Christmas to St. Albans Congregational Church

Source: Impress Media - Jennifer Niederhoffer

Vocalist celebrates the holidays with classic songs and the music of Nat “King" Cole in Queens

Vocalist Allan Harris will perform at St. Albans Congregational Church, 172-17 Linden Boulevard, Queens, on Saturday, December 1 from 5pm-6pm. At this appearance, the Harlem-based vocalist will present “A Jazzy Christmas," celebrating the holiday season with classic songs and the music of Nat “King" Cole. For more information, call (718) 657-8282. This event is part of the church's Jazz Communion Vespers series.

Harris recently ...

130

Performance / Tour

Allan Harris Pays Tribute to the Genius of Eddie Jefferson at J@LC

Allan Harris Pays Tribute to the Genius of Eddie Jefferson at J@LC

Source: Impress Media - Jennifer Niederhoffer

Harlem-based vocalist joins Eric Reed and Carla Cook for November 9 and 10 concerts Allan Harris will join the Eric Reed Trio and singer Carla Cook at The Allen Room, Frederick P. Rose Hall, home of Jazz at Lincoln Center, on Broadway at 60th St., New York City. on November 9 and 10 at 7:30pm and 9:30pm. These events, dubbed “The Genius of Eddie Jefferson" are to celebrate the creator of vocalese, where a singer puts words to an instrumental ...

211

Performance / Tour

Allan Harris Pays Tribute to Nat "King" Cole with Long Live the King

Allan Harris Pays Tribute to Nat "King" Cole with Long Live the King

Source: Impress Media - Jennifer Niederhoffer

New release and tour features New York-based vocalist celebrating the life and music of Nat “King" Cole

New York vocalist Allan Harris recently released his new CD, Long Live The King, a tribute to the late, great Nat “King" Cole recorded live at The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. The album has been released to a great response from media, radio, and fans alike. In fact, The Washington Post wrote: “Needless to say, any singer who shows even the slightest ...

91

Performance / Tour

Allan Harris Returns to the Kennedy Center on September 28 & 29

Allan Harris Returns to the Kennedy Center on September 28 & 29

Source: Impress Media - Jennifer Niederhoffer

ALLAN HARRIS RETURNS TO THE KENNEDY CENTER ON SEPTEMBER 28 & 29 Vocalist celebrates release of Nat “King" Cole tribute CD recorded at the Center

Vocalist Allan Harris will perform at the The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F Street NW, on Friday, September 28 and Saturday, September 29, 2007 at 7:30pm and 9:30pm. Tickets are $25. For more information, visit http://www.kennedy-center.org/. This show is a special celebration of Harris's brand new CD, Long ...

129

Recording

Allan Harris Pays Tribute to Nat "King" Cole with Long Live the King

Allan Harris Pays Tribute to Nat "King" Cole with Long Live the King

Source: Impress Media - Jennifer Niederhoffer

September 4 release features New York-based vocalist recorded live at The Kennedy Center

On Tuesday, September 4, 2007, Allan Harris will release Long Live The King, a tribute to the late, great Nat “King" Cole. The album was recorded live at The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.

“As the years rolled by, I have been compared favorably to the great Nat 'King' Cole," admits Harris. The New York Times' Stephen Holden called him “an extremely relaxed and tasteful crooner in ...

81

Recording

Jazz Vocalist Allan Harris' Cross That River Experience on ArtistShare

Jazz Vocalist Allan Harris' Cross That River Experience on ArtistShare

Source: All About Jazz

Love Productions 700 Riverside Dr., #6C New York, NY 10031 Jazz Vocalist Allan Harris Announces The Launch of the Cross That River Experience on ArtistShare: Jazz Meets Country Jazz vocalist Allan Harris has recently completed the first ten songs in a musical trilogy entitled “Cross That River." It features songs he's written that are at times poignant reflections on life as a slave and other times joyful expressions of freedom and compassion. Harris takes his listeners on a musical journey ...

"Mr. Harris... a supremely relaxed and tasteful crooner in the Nat King Cole tradition." —The New York Times

"Harris is a velvet-voiced jazz singer, with a savvy manner and music in his veins. (Press materials tell us that no less than Louis Armstrong babysat him when Harris was a child.)" —variety.com

"One of the best male jazz vocalists of his genre." — Ben Ratliff

"Wow! What an incredible CD this is. If you are unfamiliar with Allan Harris as I was, get a hold of this CD and introduce yourself to a wonderful jazz singer and a jewel of an album." — Edward Blanco

​“A protean talent…” –The New York Times

Photos

Concerts

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Live At Blue LLama

Love Productions Records
2023

buy

Live At The Blue LLama

Love Productions Records
2023

buy

Convergence

Love Productions Records
2012

buy

Allan Harris & Takana...

Love Productions Records
2012

buy

Black Bar Jukebox

Membran Records
0

buy

I've Got a Lot of Livin' To Do

From: Black Bar Jukebox
By Allan Harris

Similar

Get more of a good thing!

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