Gerry Beaudoin Trio w/ special guest Harry Allen October 16, 2011

Collaborations are nothing new in the history of jazz. Ellington and Strayhorn, Bill Evans and Jim Hall, Stanley Turrintine and Kenny Burrell are examples of artists who pooled their talent and ideas to create memorable and moving music. The Gerry Beaudoin Trio with Harry Allen is another memorable musical experience in this jazz tradition. Meeting at a concert together in 2009 they found an instant musical camaraderie and respect for each other’s music. That turned into a recording session months later and the recording “ Gerry Beaudoin Trio: The Return with Harry Allen”is the result of a that chance meeting in 2009. The Return features trio and quartet tracks and eight Beaudoin Compositions as well as two standards. “ Harry was the perfect foil for my trio and my songs, and I knew that first night we played together. Harry comments,” Some recordings are fun to make from start to finish. This was one of them. Great guys, great musicians, great tunes. We swung the whole afternoon away.” The Gerry Beaudoin Trio features two long time players in Gerry's musical orbit, bassist Jesse Williams who has recorded and performed with musical legends such as Jay McShann,Ruth Brown, Al Kooper, John Hammond and blues icon Duke Robillard and Drummer Les Harris JR. Les has performed or recorded with jazz legends including Clark Terry, Scott Hamilton, Milt Jackson and Phil Woods. In Gerry's words " they remind me of the great rhythm sections in jazz like Percy Heath and Connie Kay, Sam Jones and Lewis Hayes and Chambers and Cobb. When I play with them I know I'll play well because they can't help but make me play at the top of my game.

Jazz guitarist Gerry Beaudoin has carved out a career as a leader, arranger and guitarist. His first national success was in 1992 with the Boston Jazz Ensemble. Gerry then went on to make two critically acclaimed Gerry Beaudoin Trio recordings with mandolin titan, David Grisman. The award-winning guitarist, (1992 National Association of Independent Record Distributors Honorable Mention in the traditional jazz category, 1993 and 1995 CADENCE EDITORS CHOICE AWARD, Gerry has had his music placed on the Grammy Awards ballot three times in his career) has had a career that has spanned almost thirty years. A graduate of Boston’s prestigious Berklee College of Music Gerry quickly became a fixture on the New England jazz scene. Encouraged by jazz guitar legends Bucky Pizzarelli and Kenny Burrell after meeting them as a young student , Gerry combined the chordal techniques and sensibilities of Bucky Pizzarelli with the easy, bluesy swing of Kenny Burrell to create a unique style all his own. With in a few short years Gerry had performed or recorded with many jazz and blues luminaries including Ronnie Earl, Eddie “ Cleanhead “ Vinson, Jay McShann, Dick Johnson, John and Bucky Pizzarelli, Duke Robillard, Lowell Fulsom, Gatemouth Brown, Dave McKenna, Alan Dawson, three time Grammy nominated jazz vocalist Karrin Allyson and harmonica legend from the Eric Clapton and Muddy Waters Bands, Jerry Portnoy. In 1992 Gerry released his first recording as a leader with the Boston Jazz Ensemble titled In a Sentimental Mood. Released to rave reviews and critical acclaim it catapulted Gerry onto the national jazz scene. It was quickly followed by two other well received recordings Sentimental Over You and Sentimental Christmas. Gerry was the founder of the New Guitar Summit which featured Gerry alongside fellow guitarists the legendary J.Geils and blues icon Duke Robillard. Their easy bluesy swing inspired jazz had the jazz media comparing them favorably to the Great Guitars which featured Barney Kessell, Charlie Byrd and Herb Ellis. Gerry sums his career up best,” outside of my family music is my life and my life is music.”

Tenor saxophonist Harry Allen is of the bright young stars in jazz. Gene Lees writes, "Stan Getz was once asked his idea of the perfect tenor saxophone soloist. His answer was, 'My technique, Al Cohn's ideas, and Zoot's time.' The fulfillment of that ideal may well be embodied in thirty-year-old Harry Allen."

Swing Bros. recording artist Harry Allen has over thirty recordings to his name. Three of Harry's CDs have won Gold Disc Awards from Japan's Swing Journal Magazine, and his CD Tenors Anyone? won both the Gold Disc Award and the New Star Award. His recordings have made the top ten list for favorite new releases in Swing Journal Magazine's reader's poll and Jazz Journal International's critic's poll for 1997, and Eu Nao Quero Dancar (I Won't Dance), the third Gold Disc Award winner, was voted second for album of the year for 1998 by Swing Journal Magazine’s reader’s poll. The Harry Allen - Joe Cohn Quartet won the New York Nightlife Award for Outstanding Jazz Combo Performance of 2006 and was nominated for Best Jazz Combo by the Jazz Journalists Association for the same year.

Harry has performed at jazz festivals and clubs worldwide, frequently touring the United States, Europe and Asia. He has performed or recorded with Rosemary Clooney, Ray Brown, Hank Jones, Frank Wess, Flip Phillips, Scott Hamilton, Harry 'Sweets' Edison, Kenny Burrell, Herb Ellis, John Pizzarelli, Bucky Pizzarelli, Jeff Hamilton, Warren Vache, and has recorded with Tony Bennett, Johnny Mandel, Ray Brown, Tommy Flanagan, JamesTaylor and Cheryl Crow.

Harry is featured on many of John Pizzarelli's recordings including the soundtrack and an on-screen cameo in the feature film The Out of Towners starring Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn.

Official Website: http://www.41bridgestreet.com/calendar/index.php?id=182