London Jazz Festival: Harry Allen Septet

A native of New York, the multi-award winning Harry Allen is considered to be one of the finest mainstream saxophonists in America and beyond. A “wunderkind” of the US jazz scene back in the 1980’s Harry first started making waves as a teenager and has been impressing everyone who has heard him ever since. Described by the Observer as “one of the finest exponents of swing tenor alive today" Harry has over thirty recordings to his name, three having won Gold Disc Awards from Japan's Swing Journal Magazine with his CD Tenors Anyone? winning both the Gold Disc Award and the New Star Award. The Harry Allen-Joe Cohn Quartet won the New York Nightlife Award for Outstanding Jazz Combo Performance of 2006 and was nominated for Best Jazz Combo by the Jazz Journalists Association for the same year. Harry has performed at jazz festivals and clubs worldwide, frequently touring the United States, Europe and Asia and his cv is, unsurprisingly, vast and impressive, including work with the likes of Rosemary Clooney, Ray Brown, Hank Jones, Frank Wess, Flip Phillips, Scott Hamilton, Harry 'Sweets' Edison, Kenny Burrell, Herb Ellis, John & Bucky Pizzarelli, Tony Bennett, Johnny Mandel, James Taylor, Sheryl Crow, and Dori Caymmi. You get the idea, he’s very good! The gig tonight will feature Harry’s brilliant swing arrangements for a four sax front line (yes, that’s four of them – for the second time this week!) which will feature three great UK-based saxophonists, Dave O’Higgins and Olly Wilby on tenor sax and Richard Shepherd on baritone along with an international rhythm section featuring the great Italian pianist Andrea Pozza along with Simon Woolf on bass and Steve Brown on drums. This promises to be a rare treat for those who like their jazz straight ahead and swinging and absolutely not to be missed.

“a first division tenor player" Daily Telegraph;
"Rich and Satisfying when he's balladeering, mind blowing when he's cooking...endlessly inventive...his tone and execution are always superb" Jazz Journal;
"There was a further moment of disbelief when Harry Allen's quartet took the stand. How could a man play tenor saxophone with such virtuosity...” Metro