Harry Allen, tenor saxophonist, stands among the leading voices of his generation, combining warmth, lyricism, and an unwavering dedication to the swing tradition.
In 2024, Allen was inducted into the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame, and in 2020 into the Jazz Monsters Hall of Fame at SOKA University of America. He was also a top-three finalist for France’s Académie du Jazz Prix du Jazz Classique for his album Under a Blanket of Blue with guitarist Dave Blenkhorn—an album recorded, mixed, and mastered remotely during the pandemic.
With over 70 recordings as a leader, more as a sideman, and over 100 singles, Allen’s discography reflects both depth and consistency. Three of his albums have received Gold Disc Awards from Japan’s Swing Journal, including Tenors Anyone?, which also earned the New Star Award.
His recordings have frequently appeared in top-ten lists from critics and readers alike, with Eu Nao Quero Dancar (I Won’t Dance) ranking second for album of the year in 1998.
The Harry Allen–Joe Cohn Quartet received the 2006 New York Nightlife Award for Outstanding Jazz Combo Performance and a Jazz Journalists Association nomination for Best Jazz Combo. Allen himself was honored with the 2010 New York Nightlife Award for Best Jazz Solo.
A frequent presence on international stages, Allen has performed across the United States, Europe, and Asia. His collaborators include Rosemary Clooney, Ray Brown, Hank Jones, Scott Hamilton, Kenny Burrell, and John Pizzarelli.
He appears on numerous John Pizzarelli recordings and made an on-screen cameo in The Out of Towners starring Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn. He has also appeared in ESPN commercials alongside Robert Goulet.
Born in Washington, D.C. in 1966 and raised in Los Angeles and Rhode Island, Allen earned his Bachelor of Arts in music from Rutgers University in 1988. He currently resides in North Bergen, New Jersey.
— Harry Allen