Harry Allen

Regarded highly in jazz circles as a swinging saxophonist, Harry Allen draws his musical inspiration and interpretive style from mainstream saxophone giants and innovators such as Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster, Stan Getz, Illinois Jacquet, and Lester Young. In contrast to many peers, he has largely avoided the modern, avant-garde, and impressionist approaches associated with John Coltrane, Archie Shepp, and Ornette Coleman. Born in Washington, D.C. in 1966, he was raised in a musical household as the son of big-band drummer Maurice Allen and began with accordion lessons before making a fortunate switch to saxophone. At Rutgers University he studied under Sahib Shihab, Bob Mintzer, and John Purcell.

There he secured his initial professional engagement through master bassist Major Holley, stepping in for Zoot Sims on a studio date alongside John Bunch, George Masso, Bucky Pizzarelli, and Ruby Braff. Holley also introduced him to Oliver Jackson, whom Allen later joined for multiple European tours. His first recording session came in 1986 with Kenny Barron. He followed that with his debut album as leader, the 1988 release How Long Has This Been Going On?

Thereafter he issued a consistent series of leader dates on labels including Progressive, Audiophile, and Nagel-Heyer before moving to major-label RCA-Victor for projects such as 1999’s Harry Allen Meets the John Pizzarelli Trio and 2000’s Plays Ellington Songs. Swing Journal magazine bestowed Gold Disc honors on three of his albums, while his CD Tenors Anyone received both the Gold Disc and New Star awards. As a sideman he has appeared with Bucky Pizzarelli, with whom he performs regularly, as well as Warren Vache and Jeff Hamilton.

Allen maintains an active recording schedule and continues to appear often at jazz festivals and concerts. Exceptionally productive, he released numerous acclaimed albums on BMG throughout the 2000s before returning to boutique imprints such as Arbors, Sackville Records, and Challenge for titles including 2007’s Cocktails for Two with Joe Temperley, 2009’s New York State of Mind, and 2010’s When Larry Met Harry alongside pianist Larry Goldings. He reunited with longtime colleague Scott Hamilton for the 2012 album ’Round Midnight and turned to bossa nova rhythms on 2015’s Something About Jobim. The next year he presented The Candy Men: Harry Allen’s All-Star New York Saxophone Band, which featured fellow saxophonists Grant Stewart, Eric Alexander, and Gary Smulyan.