Allan Harris, master of smooth jazz, rock-and-roll jazz and bluesy jazz, is a Brooklyn-based singer, guitarist and composer who has reigned as the most successful and exceptional singer of his generation since the second half of the 20th century. His voice is blessed with the warmth of Tony Bennett, the bite and rhythmic sense of Sinatra and the sly elegance of Nat 'King' Cole.
He grew up in Brooklyn, his mother was a classical pianist and his aunt a singer. When she switched from opera to the blues, the household came alive with new friends. Little Allan was once babysat by Louis Armstrong himself, who frightened him with his raspy voice. As a singer, Harris bridges two musical worlds: while his imposing baritone rivals the greats of the swing era, the rough edges and thrust in the depths bear the raw stamp of the blues. Harris is both a great guitarist and an original writer. In addition, he offers artfully chosen cover versions, by artists such as Jimi Hendrix, Chick Corea, Miles Davis and Steely Dan. Tony Bennett called Allan his favorite singer, and hearing him live, we might add, “This is how Frank Sinatra would sing if he had been born black.”
His career spans over four decades, Harris has released 14 albums, each with a distinct focus and repertoire. On Cross That River (2006), for example, he focused on the not-so-well-known story of black cowboys. Highlights include Here Comes, recorded with the renowned 54-piece Dutch ensemble Metropole Orchestra. During the pandemic, Harris and his virtuoso band kept in touch with audiences with live broadcasts of “Harlem After Dark,” which Harris hosted every Tuesday night in his Harlem living room. It was also a unique way to take the interplay between the musicians to the highest level. “The world was upside down, but we knew that every week we were going to get together, play something new and share it with our fans, even if only virtually.”
When Covid backed down, the effort paid off with interest. Harris had top-notch musicians, a newly built repertoire, and went on tour. He had two of the concerts at an elite jazz club with great acoustics in Ann Arbor, Michigan, recorded on live albums. The result is Allan Harris Live at the Blue LLama, his best concert album to date. It opens with Sunny, a Bobby Hebb evergreen from the 1960s. That Harris is both technically proficient and versatile as a guitarist is evidenced by the slow yet searing Black Coffee Blues, with Harris on electric slide guitar. Following in the song selection are Chick Corea’s Spain, So What? by Miles Davis. Alongside Harris, the key figure in his band is pianist Arcoiris Sandoval, whose solos sparkle with energy and invention. Expect all this from his Prague concert as well.
