Allen

Allen grew up outside the small southwestern Missouri town of Cassville and studied piano from age 6 to 12 and began playing trumpet in the high school band at age 14. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia where he performed in any ensemble that used trumpets. In 1984 he met and became a student of Bobby Shew. As with most of Bobby’s students, a longtime friendship is enjoyed today.

Allen has performed with jazz artists such as Clark Terry, Dizzy Gillispie, Louis Bellson, Conte Condoli, Gary Foster, Pete Christlieb, Bobby Shew, John Faddis, Marvin Stamm, Conrad Herwig and John Fedchock to name a few.

He has also performed with entertainers, Ray Charles, Tom Jones, Mel Torme, Jack Jones, John Davidson, Olivia Newton-John, Bob Hope, Bob Newhart, Frank Gorshin, The Four Tops, The Temptations, Little Anthony and the Imperials, Jan & Dean, The Beach Boys and The Manhattan Transfer.

Allen performs regularly with the Jim Widner Big Band, Lenny Klinger’s Galaxy, several small jazz groups and is available for clinics and concerts in conjunction with the Yamaha Corporation. Allen is a Yamaha Performing Artist.

First Time Out is just that-Allen’s first recording as leader and this appears on the Chase Music Group Label. The recording took place in February of ‘04 in Columbia, Mo. Personnel included Ken Kehner, piano, Kevin Hennessy, bass, Todd Strait, drums and percussion, Tim Aubuchon, tenor sax and Tony Lotven, flute. Making this recording was a lot of fun and very easy. All these musicians really made music of the notes on the page. Seven of the twelve selections were recorded on the first take. Some of those first takes were original tunes never played before; yet another testimony to these guys musicianship! We were particularly fortunate to catch Todd as I believe he did 5 recordings within a 7 day timeframe and this was one of them!

Other recordings may be may be available from this site.