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Dave Allen
Born in Philadelphia, Allen began performing and composing at the age of 15. After discovering the music of John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, and Keith Jarrett, he moved to New York City to attend the Manhattan School of Music where he studied with Jack Wilkins, John Abercrombie and David Liebman. Over the next twenty years Allen performed with many of the most respected musicians in jazz today, including Mark Turner, Miguel Zenon, Joey Baron, Ravi Coltrane, Dave Binney, Jeff Ballard, Seamus Blake, Donny McCaslin, Marcus Gilmore, and many others. He has released two critically acclaimed recordings ("Untold Stories" and "Real and Imagined") and has been written about in the New York Times, Downbeat Magazine and Jazz Times Magazine. He has toured with his own projects and as a sideman throughout the U.S., Europe and Asia.
As a composer, Allen is known for his challenging writing and his use of rhythmic layering and dense harmonies. He is also deeply influenced and inspired by modern painting, poetry and cinema. He has composed works based on the paintings of Willem de Kooning, the poetry of Wallace Stevens, and the films of Stan Brakage. In 2015 Allen was commisoned to compose a suite for string quartet for the Klasik Keyifler music organization in Istanbul. The work, “Thrown Voices”, was performed in Cappadocia, Istanbul, Berlin and New York. He has recently made a new recording with his quintet which will be released later in 2018.
As an educator, Allen often gives masterclasses and workshops when traveling. He specializes in advanced rhythmic concepts and modern harmonic vocabulary and often uses his own compositions in his teaching. He is currently developing a book on this subject. Allen has been a faculty member of the New York Jazz Academy and Bahcesahir University Masters program in Istanbul. He has also taught at New York University and The University of the Arts and he is currently on faculty at Temple University.
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Dave Allen: The Sky Above Her
by Troy Dostert
Guitarist Dave Allen's satiny-smooth tone and precise technique belie an intrepid sensibility that is eager to rise to the surface. So unsuspecting listeners who cue up the title track of The Sky Above Her, Allen's third album as a leader, might at first be tricked into thinking they'll be listening to something easy on the ears, as the track possesses an ingratiating, comfortable feel; Allen's melodicism definitely contributes to that impression. But by the album's second cut, Allen's adventurous side ...
read moreDave Allen: Real and Imagined
by Farrell Lowe
Dave Allen's sophomore effort provides nine more of his original compositions to absorb and enjoy. Real and Imagined is filled to the brim with music that is an intricate and flowing tapestry of lyricism and cinematic environments. As a guitarist, Allen readily shows he is of the same pedigree as some of his peers (Ben Monder, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Tim Ziesmer, Steve Cardenas) and, like his peers, he has a fully developed and mature approach to composition, technical command of his ...
read moreDave Allen: Real and Imagined
by Budd Kopman
With Real And Imagined, guitarist Dave Allen has solidified a style that was first presented with his debut album, Untold Stories (Fresh Sound New Talent, 2005). This is music that is very hip. Pulsating rhythms, odd meters and phrase lengths, and subtly shifting harmonies are played with a cool guitar tone that belies the driving, unpredictable lines. Allen's effortless technique downplays the apparent complexity, paradoxically creating a cool surface sheen that has a white heat glowing beneath ...
read moreDave Allen: Real and Imagined
by AAJ Italy Staff
Il chitarrista americano Dave Allen si conferma come uno dei nuovi talenti da seguire con questo ottimo Real and Imagined che fa seguito al debutto avvenuto nel 2005 con l'album Untold Stories. Nato nell'aprile del 1970 e cresciuto a Philadelphia, Allen era già stato segnalato giovanissimo sulle pagine di 'Guitar Player' come talento emergente, ma poi si era un po' perso nelle nebbie del professionismo.Questo album, pubblicato dalla spagnola Fresh Sound, lo vede in compagnia di Seamus Blake, ...
read moreDave Allen: Real and Imagined
by Mark F. Turner
Dave Allen's Real and Imagined is of particular interest as it exposes refreshing music that seemingly comes out of nowhere, causing you to wonder why you haven't heard of the artist before. But Allen is no neophyte, performing and thriving in NYC's diverse jazz environment for a number of years. Real and Imagined is his second release, following Untold Stories (Fresh Sound, 2005), featuring his working quartet consisting of the potent rhythm section of bassist Drew Gress ...
read moreDave Allen: Untold Stories
by Donald Elfman
The Fresh Sound label and its owner, Jordi Pujol, continue to mine untapped wealth in New York with the New Talent series, discovering scores of fine musicians playing and writing under the radar, extending the jazz tradition by exploring new colors in which to improvise. The label's latest release is guitarist Dave Allen's debut.Allen--who has a regular trio gig at New York's Push club, where he plays every Monday--has come to be known for both his sense of ...
read moreDave Allen: Untold Stories
by Budd Kopman
Having attempted to play the guitar, I have a special place in my heart for guitarists, especially when in the aural presence of a master like Dave Allen, who brings to mind the ironic cartoon where one guitarist is watching another play and the bubble says, “I can do that. Many guitarists come out of schools like Berklee with blazing technique, but they pale to the ear quickly when you realize technique is all there is. Allen ...
read moreDave Allen: Supporting Musicians on the Social Web
Source:
HypeBot
The online music “business" has long been a minefield for musicians, especially unsigned independent musicians. When the default business plan for streaming services such as Spotify, Pandora and Mog, is to raise investor money, license music from the recording labels and then launch a service that requires advertising in the stream, one has to wonder what's in it for the musicians who receive a fraction of compensation in royalties from the labels for their labours, or the music fans who have to endure ...
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Dave Allen Trio and Quartet - May 4th and 11th in NYC
Source:
Michael Ricci
Dave Allen Trio with Matt Clohesy - bass Tom Rainey - drums Tuesday, May 4th At Korzo in Brooklyn One set at 9:30pm 667 5th Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11215 (718) 285-9425 Dave Allen Quartet John O'Gallagher - sax Matt Clohesy - bass Tom Rainey - drums Tuesday, May 11th At Cornelia St Cafe Two sets starting ...
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Jazz Musician of the Day: Dave Allen
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Dave Allen's birthday today!
JAZZ MUSICIAN OF THE DAY Dave Allen
The Dave Allen Quartet brings together some of the best young talent that New York City has to offer. Their debut recording, Untold Stories, documents a well-crafted group sound rarely found in music today... more
Website | Photos | Articles
Follow Dave Allen
Put AAJ's Musician of the Day box on your website or ...
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Dave Allen Quartet at Nublu Jazz Festival (NYC) on November 13th
Source:
Michael Ricci
Dave Allen Quartet Featuring David Liebman - September at 55 Bar
Source:
All About Jazz
Dave Allen Quartet performs September 8th at the 55 Bar.
Dave Allen Quartet with Dave Liebman - sax Chris Lightcap - bass Adam Cruz - drums
55 Bar 55 Christopher St 10pm-1am
Allen has found a true voice, his effortless technique downplays the apparent complexity, paradoxically creating a cool surface sheen that has a white heat glowing beneath it...music that seduces both the body and mind--again and again. ...
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Dave Allen Quartet - June 19th at Smalls
Source:
All About Jazz
June 19th
Dave Allen Quartet with Seamus Blake - sax Massimo Biocalti - bass Greg Ritchie - drums
Smalls 183 W 10th St at 7th ave 730-10pm
Cover Charge gets you in all night. Donny McCaslin's group plays after us.
“Dave Allen is one of a number of spitfire jazz guitarists raising the bar on that ever- popular instrument. But Allen offers more than battle-ready chops—his ...
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Dave Allen Quartet at Tea Lounge (NYC) on May 12th
Source:
All About Jazz
May 12th Tea Lounge with Mark Turner - sax Jeff Ballard - drums Chris Lightcap - bass Dave Allen - guitar/compositions 9pm - 12 837 Union St, Brooklyn $5 Cover “Allen has found a true voice, his effortless technique downplays the apparent complexity, paradoxically creating a cool surface sheen that has a white heat glowing beneath it...music that seduces both the body and mind--again and again." --All About Jazz “An exciting and unique player in the mold of ...
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Dave Allen Trio at Bar Next Door on May 7th
Source:
All About Jazz
Dave Allen Trio with Dave Allen - guitar/compositions Jochen Rueckert - drums John Hebert - bass May 7th at Bar Next Door (downstairs at La Lanterna) 8pm to 12 129 MacDougal St $10 cover “Allen has found a true voice, his effortless technique downplays the apparent complexity, paradoxically creating a cool surface sheen that has a white heat glowing beneath it...music that seduces both the body and mind--again and again." ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Dave Allen
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Dave Allen's birthday today!
JAZZ MUSICIAN OF THE DAY Dave Allen
The Dave Allen Quartet brings together some of the best young talent that New York City has to offer. Their debut recording, Untold Stories, documents a well-crafted group sound rarely found in music today... more
Website | Videos | Articles
Follow Dave Allen @ AAJ
Put AAJ's Musician of the Day box on your ...
read more
"fiery and eloquent... Allen brings daunting chops, full-bodied tone and melodic sensitivity." - David Adler - Jazz Times Magazine
"The music is full of subtlety. Allen has no seeming limit to his technique, but he always puts it to good musical ends. His lines are full of twists and turns, but I always hear thought and emotion, not just flying fingers." -Budd Kopman, All About Jazz
Primary Instrument
Guitar, electric
Willing to teach
Advanced only
Photos
Music
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Dave Allen
Instrument: Guitar, electric
Born: April 9, 1970
