MIKE ALLEN
Saxophonist / Pianist / Composer / Bandleader

Mike Allen, 44, is profiled in Mark Miller's "Miller Companion to Jazz in Canada" and has a Master's in Jazz from New York University. He has performed and/or recorded with internationally recognized players including Cedar Walton, Julian Priester, Kenny Wheeler, Dave Liebman, Gary Bartz, John Taylor, Jim Snidero, Brian Lynch, Don Friedman, Don Thompson, John Ballantyne, Kevin Dean, Phil Dwyer, Chuck Israels, Donald Bailey, Ali Jackson, Seamus Blake, and Pete Magadini. Allen was a member of Canadian guitar legend Sonny Greenwich's quintet from 1990 to 1995. His playing is featured on Greenwich's Standard Idioms (Kleo) and Fragments Of A Memory (Cornerstone). In 1993, Canada's national newspaper, The Globe and Mail listed Mike as one of a half-dozen "Interesting Canadians To Watch". Since then, he has been performing primarily on the West Coast, with several Canada-wide tours and regular features on nationally aired CBC radio broadcasts. His 2005 release Love One Another was hailed as the "#1 Canadian Jazz Album Of 2005" by the Ottawa Citizen. Fearless, Allen's 2004 release was chosen by Public Radio International jazz host Jim Wilke, as one of the "Best Pacific Northwest Jazz CDs of 2004", while his 2003 trio album Dialectic won "Outstanding Jazz Recording 2003" at the Western Canadian Music Awards. Mike has been awarded prestigious Arts Council grants over the years to study with tenor giants Joe Henderson, Joe Lovano and David Liebman.

Mike's groups perform original material and standard repertoire with emphasis on lyricism, deep grooves (mainly swing), and cohesive group interaction.

Professional Highlights

2009 Performances in Toronto, Ottawa and Kingston with guitarist Jake Langley.

2008 Release of ninth CD Threads (Almus Jazz/Warner Music) featuring duo music with George McFetridge (piano).

2008 Release of eighth CD Vancouver (Almus Jazz/Warner Music) featuring originals dedicated to our fair city.

2007 Quartet tour of Southern BC and CBC "Canada Live" concert broadcast with vocal-sensation Denzal Sinclaire.

2006 14-city British Columbia / Alberta quartet tour.

2005 Release of seventh CD Love One Another (Almus Jazz/Warner Music).

2004 17-city Western Canadian trio tour.

2004 Release of sixth CD Fearless: Mike Allen Trio with pianist George McFetridge (Almus Jazz/Warner).

2003 18-city Canadian tour and release of Western Canadian Music Award-winning album Dialectic (Almus Jazz/Warner).

2003 Trio performances at Bellingham’s Heiner Centre and Vancouver’s Jazz Cellar with trombonist Julian Priester, The Glenn Gould Theatre (Toronto), Frontenac Cultural Centre (Montreal) and the release of fourth album as a leader Change Is on Maximim Jazz - featuring drummer Dave Robbins and bassist Darren Radtke.

2002 Concert with pianist Cedar Walton at Capilano College’s Birch Theatre.

2002 Canadian tour with the Bruce Nielsen Band including performances at Ottawa's National Library, Edmonton's Yardbird Suite and The Bassment in Saskatoon.

2001 Chan Centre at University Of British Columbia with the Brad Turner Quintet.

2000 The Vogue Theatre in Vancouver with vocalist Christine Duncan.

2000 Performance at the Seattle Art Museum with the Jim Ferguson Quartet as part of KPLU's "Art Of Jazz" series.

1999 Release of third CD One Side Of A Circle and concert at the Vancouver East Cultural Centre featuring a newly formed nonet The Jazz Ascendants.

1998 Mike Allen Trio performance for “Royal Visit” to Canada by Princes Charles, Harry and William.

1997 Mike Allen Trio performance at APEC for Canadian Prime Minister, Hon. Jean Chretien.

1997 Release of second CD One Step Closer and 9-city national CD promotional tour.

1997 Performances with bassist Chuck Israels at Calgary’s Performing Arts Center and Yukon Arts Center in Whitehorse.

1997 Performance at Seattle’s Jazz Alley with the Chuck Israels Quintet.

1995 Release of debut CD Quintet/Quartet with drummer Marc Miralta

1990-95 Performances with the Sonny Greenwich Quintet at Toronto’s Top ‘O The Senator Jazz Club, The Toronto Downtown International Jazz Festival, The Montreal Int. Jazz Festival and The Ottawa Int. Jazz Festival.

1992 Performances by the Mike Allen Quintet featuring Sonny Greenwich and Don Thompson) at Montreal’s Place-des-Arts Concert Hall.

1989-95 Mike Allen Group appearances at major Canadian jazz festivals: Montreal (/89, /90, /91, /92, /93, /95) and Toronto (/90, /91, /95).

1988 Mike Allen Quartet tour of Poland and performances at the Warsaw Int. Jazz Jamboree in Poland.