Henry James "Red" Allen Jr. (January 7, 1908 – April 17, 1967) was an American jazz trumpeter and vocalist whose playing has been described by Joachim-Ernst Berendt and others as the first to fully incorporate the innovations of Louis Armstrong.

Life and career

Allen was born in the Algiers neighborhood of New Orleans, Louisiana, the son of the bandleader Henry James Allen Sr. He took early trumpet lessons from Peter Bocage and Manuel Manetta. His career began in Sidney Desvigne's Southern Syncopators. He was playing professionally by 1924 with the Excelsior Brass Band and the jazz dance bands of Sam Morgan, George Lewis and John Casimir. After playing on riverboats on the Mississippi River, he went to Chicago in 1927 to join King Oliver's band. Around this time he made recordings on the side in the band of Clarence Williams.

In 1929, Allen joined Luis Russell's Orchestra, in which he was a featured soloist until 1932. He was survived by his widow, Pearly May, and a son, Henry Allen III.

Style and influence

Allen's trumpet style has been described by Joachim-Ernst Berendt and others as the first to fully incorporate the innovations of Louis Armstrong, and to develop an emphasis on phrasing.

Discography

  • 1929-33 - The Chronological (Classics) 540, 1990)
  • 1935-36 - The Chronological (Classics 575, 1990)
  • 1936-37 - The Chronological (Classics 590, 1990)
  • 1937-41 - The Chronological (Classics 628, 1990)
  • 1944-47 - The Chronological (Classics 1067, 1990)
  • 1957.07 - Red Allen, feat. Kid Ory & Jack Teagarden at Newport (Verve, 1957)
  • 1957.03 - Ride, Red, Ride in Hi-Fi (RCA Victor, 1957) reissued as World on a String (RCA, 1991)
  • 1957.05 - Dixiecats (Roulette, 1957)
  • 1957 - Stormy Weather (Jazz Groove, ?)
  • 1957.12 - Warhorses (Jass Records, 1987CD version) with Coleman Hawkins
  • 1958 - High Standards, (Jass Records, 1987CD version) with Coleman Hawkins
  • 1960.11 - Plays King Oliver (Verve, ?)
  • 1960.11 - Stuyvesant Casino Nights (Stycon, ?)
  • 1961.09 - Live at the London House (Fanfare, ?)
  • 1962.03 - Rare Red Allen Trio performances (Flutegroove, ?)
  • 1962.06 - Mr. Allen (Swingville, 1962)
  • 1963 - Nice! (Phoenix, ?)
  • 1965.06 - Feeling Good (Columbia, ?)
  • 1967 - with the Alex Welsh Band (Jazzology, ?)
  • 1968 - The College Concert (Impulse!, 1968) with Pee Wee Russell

with the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra

  • 1932-34 - The Chronological (Classics 535, ?)
  • 1934-37 - The Chronological (Classics 527, ?) HRA only in the first four tracks

with the Luis Russell Orchestra

  • 1926-29 - The Chronological (Classics 588, 1991) HRA in the ten tracks of 1929
  • 1930-34 - The Chronological (Classics 606, 1991) in all the tracks except the last six

with the Mills Blue Rhythm Band

  • 1934-36 - The Chronological (Classics , ?)
  • 1936-37 - The Chronological (Classics , ?) HRA in the 14 tracks of 1936

With Langston Hughes

  • Weary Blues (MGM, 1959)

References

Further reading

  • Ride, Red, Ride – The Life of Henry "Red" Allen by John Chilton, Continuum, 1999.
  • Red Hot Jazz site website
  • Syncopated Times website
  • Henry Allen recordings at the Discography of American Historical Recordings.