Carl Allen (drummer) facts for kids
Carl Allen, born on April 25, 1961, is a talented American jazz drummer. He is known for his amazing drumming skills and for working with many famous musicians. He has also taught jazz music to students.
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About Carl Allen
Carl Allen studied music at William Paterson University. This is where he learned a lot about jazz and drumming.
Working with Jazz Stars
Carl Allen has played drums with many well-known jazz artists. These include Freddie Hubbard, Jackie McLean, George Coleman, and Phil Woods. He also played with the Benny Green Trio.
Carl Allen often teamed up with bassist Christian McBride. They played together in many jazz groups. McBride even asked Allen to be the drummer for his band, Christian McBride & Inside Straight. Carl Allen played on their first album, Kinda Brown, and joined them on tour.
In 1988, Carl Allen and Vincent Herring started a company called Big Apple Productions. This company helped produce music albums for young jazz performers.
Teaching Jazz
In 2001, Carl Allen joined the teachers at The Juilliard School. This is a very famous music school. By 2008, he became the Artistic Director of Jazz Studies there. This meant he was in charge of the jazz program. He left Juilliard in 2013.
In 2021, Carl Allen became a professor at the University of Missouri - Kansas City (UKMC) Conservatory. He teaches jazz studies to students there.
On Screen and On Stage
In 2011, Carl Allen appeared as himself in two episodes of the TV show Tremé. The show was about music in New Orleans. He was shown in a recording studio scene in New York City.
In 2014, Carl Allen started his own group called The Art of Elvin. This band plays music to honor two other great drummers, Art Blakey and Elvin Jones. The band first played at a big drumming conference in Indianapolis, Indiana. Carl Allen played drums, with Freddie Hendrix on trumpet, Tivon Pennicott on tenor sax, Xavier Davis on piano, and Yasushi Nakamura on bass.
Carl Allen's Music
Carl Allen has released his own albums and played on many others.
As a leader
- The Pursuer (Atlantic, 1994)
- Testimonial (Atlantic, 1995)
Collaborations
- Live from the Detroit Jazz Festival 2013 (Mack Avenue, 2014)
Co-led with Rodney Whitaker
- Get Ready (Mack Avenue, 2007)
- Work to Do (Mack Avenue, 2009)
With Manhattan Project
- Dreamboat (Alfa Jazz/Timeless, 2000)
- Piccadilly Square (Alfa Jazz/Timeless)
- The Dark Side of Dewey (Alfa Jazz/Evidence, 1996)
As a sideman
- With Don Braden: After Dark (Criss Cross, 1994)
- With Cyrus Chestnut: The Nutman Speaks (Alfa Jazz)
- With Art Farmer: The Company I Keep (Arabesque, 1994)
- With Benny Golson: Up Jumped Benny (Arkadia Jazz, 1997)
- With the Benny Green Trio: Blue Notes (Toshiba-EMI Japan)
- With Vincent Herring: Evidence (Landmark, 1991)
- With Freddie Hubbard: Life Flight (Blue Note)
- With Jackie McLean: Dynasty (Triloka)
- With Woody Shaw: Double Take (with Freddie Hubbard, Blue Note, 1985)
- With Christian McBride: People Music (Mack Avenue, 2013)
- With Eric Alexander: Full Range (Criss Cross, 1994)
- With Donald Byrd: A City Called Heaven (Landmark, 1991)
- With Phil Woods: Alto Summit (Milestone, 1996)
- With Eliane Elias: Everything I Love (Blue Note and EMI, 2000)
