Eddie Allen's Page

http://www.EddieAllen.netTrumpeter, composer, arranger, author, educator, Eddie Allen is one of the more versatile musicians on the New York scene. He’s called upon to play everything from jazz (big band as well as small ensembles) to R & B/pop to Latin to symphonic to Broadway and everything in between.
He studied music, theory, and arranging at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music in Milwaukee and the University of Wisconsin in Green Bay before moving to the east coast. He then attended the William Paterson University of New Jersey where he received a Bachelor of Music degree. Since his arrival on the New York scene he’s worked with such jazz greats as; Art Blakey, Joe Henderson, Randy Weston, Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Foster, Billy Harper, Henry Threadgill, Bobby Watson, Jon Faddis, Benny Carter, Panama Francis and Steve Turre.

He has recorded and performed with, as well as composed for; Louis Hayes, Lester Bowie, Etta Jones & Houston Person, Mongo Santamaria, Chico Freeman, Charli Persip, Vanessa Rubin and Muhal Richard Abrams.

He’s performed in the orchestras of such Broadway hits as; Ain’t Misbehavin’, Black & Blue, Side Show, Jelly’s Last Jam, Five Guys Named Mo,’ and Rollin’ On The T.O.B.A.

As an author, he’s written the instructional method book, “An Introduction to the Bb Concert Blues,” which is published by Charles Colin Publishing - N.Y.C.

He’s currently leading a quartet, a quintet, an Afro-Cuban/Brazilian project, a 16-piece big band and a large ensemble, which brings together acoustic and electric/electronic instruments. He also leads a big band, which not only plays his compositions and arrangements but also the music of such jazz greats as Jimmy Heath, Bobby Watson, Muhal Richard Abrams, and Rufus Reid as they come to lead the band. Eddie Allen continues to work as a free-lance musician and clinician.

** Eddie Allen performs and records on SHURE microphones, ZOOM Electronics and he’s a YAMAHA Performing Artist.

DISCOGRAPHY -

Click CD Cover to Listen / Purchase

JAZZ: As a Leader with Quintet
“Summer Days” **; Enja Records-ENJ-9388 2
“R & B“ **; Enja Records-ENJ-9033 2
“Remembrance” **; Venus Records-TKCY-79054
“Another’s Point Of View” **; Enja Records- CD 8004-2

Louis Hayes
“Nightfall” **; SteepleChase -SCCD-31285
“Blue Lou” **; SteepleChase - SCCD-31340

Chico Freeman
“You’ll Know When You Get There” **;Black Saint Records - BS 120 128-1

Etta Jones
“At Last”; Muse Records - MCD 5511

Teddy Edwards
“Ladies Man”; HighNote Records - HCD 7067

Cyrus Chestnut
“Earth Stories”; Atlantic Records - 82876-2

Vanessa Rubin
“Pastiche” **; RCA/Novus - Nov 63152-2
“Soul Eyes” **; RCA/Novus - Nov 63127-2

Jerome Harris
“Hidden In Plain View”; New World/Countercurrents - 80472-2

Muhal Richard Abrams
“Song For All”; Black Saint Records - 120161-2
“Think All, Focus One”; Black Saint Records - 120141-2
“One Line, Two Views”; New World Records - 80469-2

Ebony Brass Quintet
“Brand New Bag” **; Mapleshade - 03032

Rob Reddy’s Honor System
“Post-War Euphoria”; Songlines Recordings - SGL 1512-2
“Songs That You Can Trust”; Koch Jazz - KOC CD 7876

Bobby Previte’s Weather Clear, Track Fast
“Hue And Cry”; ENJA Records - ENJ-8064 2

Byron Morris & Unity
“Live! at the East Coast Jazz Festival”; By-Mor Music - BYM 002 CD
“Y2K”; By-Mor Music - BYM 003 CD

Cold Sweat
“Cold Sweat Plays J.B.”; JMT/Bamboo Records - JOOJ 20288
“4-Play” **; JMT Records - JMT CD 834-444-2
-Discography (cont.)-

Lester Bowie’s Brass Fantasy
“The Fire This Time” **; In & Out Records - IOR 7019-2
“My Way” **; DIW Records - DIW-8036
“Serious Fun” **; DIW Records - DIW -8035

The Art Ensemble of Chicago & Lester Bowie’s Brass Fantasy
“Live At the 6th Tokyo Music Joy ‘90” **; DIW Records - DIW0842E

Craig Harris & Tailgaters Tales
“Shelter”; JMT Records - JMT 870-008
“Blackout In The Square Root Of Soul”; JMT Records - JMT 880-015

Shades of Harlem
The Musical Revue of the Harlem Renaissance, Original Cast Recording

Branice McKenzie
“I Am Me (Songs for Children)”

Onaje Allan Gumbs
“Remember Their Innocence,” Ejano Records - OAG 01

Houston Person
“All Soul”, HighNote Records Inc. - HCD 7146

Gregory Generet
“(re) generet-ion”, Monsieur Music Records

BIG BAND :
Nancie Banks Orchestra
“Waves Of Peace”; Consolidated Artists - CAP 902

Charli Persip & Superband II
“In Case You Missed It”; Soul Note Records - SN 1079

The New York Composers Orchestra
“First Program in Standard Time”; New World/Countercurrents - 80418-2

James Jabbo Ware’s Me We & Them Orchestra
“Something Is Coming,” Y’all Records 04

Marty Ehrlich
“The Long View”; Enja Records - ENJ-9452 2

The Aggregation
“Groove’s Mood,” DBCD Records - 002

AFRO-CUBAN/WORLD:
Mongo Santamaria
“Brazilian Sunset” **; Candid Records - CCD 79703
“Mongo Returns” **; Milestone Records - MCD-9245-2
“Mambo Mongo” **; Chesky Records - CD-100 & CR-100
“Soy Yo” **; Concord/Picante Records - CJP-327
“Free Spirit” **; Tropical Buddah Records - TBLP-002

Orquesta Alma Latina
“Futuro”; Guajiro Records - GLP 4015

Uli Geissendoerfer
“The Extension”; Caramella d’Oro Jazz-LC 11515

Rabih Abou-Khalil
“The Cactus of Knowledge”; Enja Records - ENJ-9401 2

Salongo
“Salongo”; DBCD - 001

R & B/POP/RAP
Karen Bernod
“Some Othaness for U”; TBA6767

Joe
“Platinum Christmas” (various artists); Arista/RCA/Jive - 01241-41741-2

Olivia
“Olivia”; J Records - 80813-20001-2

Jimmy Cozier
“Jimmy Cozier,” J Records - 80813-20004-2

Duo Live
“The Color of Money”, Redemption Music Group, Ltd.


NOTE: All recordings marked (**) = Eddie Allen contributed arrangements or original compositions.

-The Critic’s Voice:

“Allen’s control of the timbers, from guttural moans to clarion peals, and his ability to squeeze whimpers out of brass and hurl them at the listener, marks him as a horn man to watch.”
W. Royal Stokes-The Washington Post

“...Bracingly vivid trumpeter...”
Howard Mandel-The Village Voice (N.Y.C.)

“His conception and phrasing recall Lee Morgan’s command of the Latin idiom.”
Keith Raether-The News Tribune (Seattle)

“...he screams and screeches, taunts and teases, growls and groans, sneaks and snakes.”
Gil Sokolow-The I.A.J.R.C. Journal

“A fullness replete with soft tone-edges and great leaping ability makes Allen interesting and worth a listen.”
Andy Bartlett-Cadence Magazine

“Allen’s trumpet and flugelhorn playing is marked by a playful inventiveness underscored by a slightly husky, almost vocal, tone and use of such swing trumpet strategies as smears, growls and glisses.”
George Kanzler-The Star Ledger (Newark, N.J.)

“Allen displays wit, charm, and true soul amidst the bristling themes and exposes fine sensitivity in the more harmonious passages.”
Sid Gribetz-JazzTimes

“In the course of playing like himself, Eddie crackles like Hargrove, squeezes half-valved whinnies and bends like Marsalis, Blanchard or Bowie.”
Kevin Whitehead-CD Review Magazine

“...precise lines and his control of texture.”
Peter Watrous-The New York Times

“Allen’s trumpet solos … were marked by flowing logic and infectious, bouncing swing.”
George Kanzler-The Newark Star Ledger

“...Allen’s original compositions dance with an attitude.”
Geraldine Wycoff-JazzTimes

“There’s a beauty to brashness, especially when it’s accompanied by chops and intuition. The talented trumpeter offers such a blend...”
Jim Macnie-The Village Voice (N.Y.C.)

“What would you get if you melded a bit of Art Blakey to the imaginaton of Lester Bowie? You’d get trumpeter Eddie Allen...”
Nancy Ann Lee-JazzTimes

“...sounds like he has assimilated the fire, articulation, and influence of Lee Morgan.”
Winthrop Bedford-Jazz Improv

“Trumpeter Eddie Allen, a leader in his own right, offered some of the concert's most inspired solos. His experience with the cutting-edge work of Muhal Richard Abrams helped him negotiate Rosewoman's sometimes-challenging charts.”
Chuck Obuchowski-Hartford Courant (Ct.)

EDDIE ALLEN HAS WORKED WITH THE FOLLOWING ARTISTS:
Jazz -
Billy Harper, John Hicks, Louis Hayes Quintet, Jack McDuff, Hilton Ruiz, Muhal Richard Abrams, the Ebony Brass Quintet, Kenny Barron, Ronnie Mathews, Ralph Lalama, Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers, Pete Yellin, Randy Weston, Joe Henderson Sextet, Onaje Allan Gumbs, Donald Harrison, Kirk Lightsey, Ralph Peterson, James Spaulding, Rufus Reid,Cold Sweat, Ned Rothenberg, Mario Pavone, Michele Rosewoman, Vanessa Rubin, Cecil Bridgewater, Craig Harris & the Tailgater’s Tales, the New York Contemporary Just Jazz All-Stars, Benny Powell, the Ray Anderson Pocket Brass Band, George Gruntz, Teruo Nakamura & the Rising Sun, Freddy Cole, Carl Allen & the Art of Elvin, The Chip White Ensemble

Large Ensembles -
Frank Foster’s Loud Minority, Frank Foster’s Swing Plus, Charli Persip’s Superband, Lester Bowie’s Brass Fantasy, Panama Francis & the Savoy Sultans, the Buck Clayton Big Band, David Murray’s Big Band, Joe Henderson Big Band,the Village Vangard Orchestra, the Mingus Big Band, Illinois Jacquet Big Band, Henry Threadgill Big Band, the David Berger Orchestra, the Ellington Orchestra, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown Big Band, the Aggregation, the Harlem Renaissance Big Band, James Jabbo Ware’s Me We & Them Orchestra, the Bob Mintzer Big Band, the Mary Lou Williams Resurgence Big Band,Dennis Mackrel & the Manhattan Symphony Jazz Orchestra, the Sacred Ellington Orchestra featuring Jessye Norman

 R&B/Pop -
The Dells, Chaka Khan, Gloria Gaynor, Kirk Franklin,The Coasters, Karen Bernod, Freda Payne, Bette Midler, Ben Harper

 World Music -
Mongo Santamaria, the Skatalites, Eddie Palmieri, Cannabis Cup Band, Steve Turre’s Sanctified Shells, Rabih Abou-Khalil

 Festival Performances -
Vilshoffen Jazz - Germany, Moers New Jazz - Germany, Naniwa Jazz - Japan, Padova Jazz - Italy, The Knitting Factory - New York City, USA, The Nice/JVC Jazz - France, Atlanta Jazz - Georgia, USA, Wigan International Jazz - England, Saalfelden Jazz - Austria, Molde Jazz - Norway, North Sea Jazz - Den Haag, Netherlands, Erdinger JazzTage - Germany, Chicago Jazz - Illinios, USA, Willisua Jazz - Switzerland, Pori Jazz - Finland, Estoril Jazz - Portugal, Montreal Jazz - Canada, Jackie Robinson Jazz - Connecticut, USA, African Street Jazz - Brooklyn, USA, Umbria Jazz - Italy, Monterey Jazz - California, USA, Red Sea Jazz - Israel, Vancouver Jazz - Canada, Murcia Jazz - Italy, Cape May Jazz - New Jersey, USA, Jaws Jazz Concert - Tokyo, Japan, Atami Moon Terrace Jazz Festival - Atami City, Japan, Jazzaldia Festival - Donostia/San Sebastian-Spain, Vallejo Jazz Festival-California

PERFORMANCES AS A LEADER:
 Night Clubs -
Blues Alley - Washington, DC, The Blue Note - NYC, NY, The Estate - Milw., Wisc., Lush Life - NYC, NY, One Step Down - Washington, DC, The Angry Squire - NYC, NY, Birdland - NYC, NY, Visiones - NYC, NY, Adagio - Savannah, GA, The New Haven Lounge - Baltimore, Md., Caroline’s - Milw., Wisc., The Lenox Lounge – NYC, NY

 Concerts -
Bushnell Park Jazz Series - Hartford, Ct., Manna House Music Series - NYC,
NY, Flushing Town Hall - Queens, NY, Left Bank Jazz Society - Baltimore, Md.,
the Afrikan Poetry Theatre - Queens, NY
Festivals
Savannah Jazz Festival - Ga., Mellon Jazz Festival - Harrisburg, Pa.,
Festival of New American Music - Sacramento, Ca. Musikfest – Bethlehem, Pa, FONT – NYC, NY

 With Salongo -
The Bermuda NeoSoul Festival, Langston Hughes Music Series - Queens, NY
Bushnell Park Summer Music Series – Hartford, Ct. the WBGO Radio Jazz for Kids Music Series – NYC, NY, Charleston Jazz Society at the Wellington – Charleston, WV
Musikfest – Bethlehem, PA, Bronx River Festival – Bronx, NY
Jamaica Music Series – Queens, NY, the Queens Public Library-NY,

 With the Aggregation -
Sweet Rhythm in NYC

 With Jazzy Brass For The Holidays -
Goddard Riverside Community Center in NYC, Langston Hughes Library in Queens, NY,
Brooklyn Children’s Museum in NY, Brooklyn Public Library in NY, Sista’s Place in Brooklyn, NY, Roosevelt Public Library in NY, Duryea Presbyterian Church in Brooklyn, NY,
Hudson River Museum in Yonkers, NY, St. Albans Congregational Church in Queens, NY

Broadway, off-Broadway, & Touring Companies:
Black & Blue, Sophisticated Ladies, Jelly’s Last Jam, Five Guys Named Moe, The
Harlem Nutcracker, Play On, Side Show, Rollin’ On The T.O.B.A., Eli’s Comin’ , Langston Hughes’s Little Ham, Ambassador Satch (The life and times of Louis Armstrong), The Color Purple

Teaching Experience Includes:
Long Island University - Brooklyn Campus, The New School (NYC), Manhattan
School of Music, Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, Brooklyn Music School, Lehman College (Bronx), Queens College, 5 Towns College (Long Island), Harlem School of the Arts (NYC),
Brooklyn College

Clinics/Adjudicator:
California State Univ. - Sacramento, Hamilton College - Clinton, NY, Radford
University -Radford,Va - Duke University - Durham,NC - Virginia Tech University, Blacksburg, Va., Penns Grove High School - New Jersey, Stony Brook Invitational Jazz Festival - New York, Diaz Music Institute - Houston, Tx , University of the Arts - Philadelphia, Pa. Hamilton High School - Milw.,Wisc., Marshall High School - Milw., Wisc., Bard College - Kingston, NY, New York State University - Binghamton, NY, Bucknell University – Lewisburg, Pa.,
Brooklyn Public Library, York College – Queens, NY,

Music Camps:
Litchfield Jazz Camp, Duke University/Boys Harbor Jazz Camp

Television recording &/or Appearance sessions:
Cosby, All My Children, United We Rise (cable), Good Morning America
(w/Gloria Gaynor), The Barbados Gospel Festival (commercial on The Word Network), the Vibe (w/ Ben Harper), the Today Show (w/Bette Midler), the Martha Stewart Show (w/Bette Midler)