Red Allen

Henry James "Red" Allen, Jr. (January 7, 1908 – April 17, 1967) was an American jazz trumpeter and vocalist whose playing has been claimed by Joachim-Ernst Berendt and others as the first to fully incorporate the innovations of Louis Armstrong.^[1][2]

Life and career

Allen was born in the

In 1929, Allen joined Luis Russell's Orchestra, in which he was a featured soloist until 1932.[3] He took part in recording sessions that year organized by Eddie Condon, some of which featured Fats Waller and Tommy Dorsey. He also made a series of recordings in late 1931 with Don Redman. In 1932 he recorded with the Rhythmakers in New York City. In 1933 he joined Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra, in which he stayed until 1934. He played with Lucky Millinder's Mills Blue Rhythm Band from 1934 to 1937, when he returned to Russell for three more years, by which time Russell's orchestra was fronted by Louis Armstrong.^[3] Allen seldom received any solo space on recordings with Armstrong,^[3] but was prominently featured in the band's live performances, even getting billing as a featured attraction.^{[citation needed]}

As a bandleader, Allen recorded for

Allen continued making many recordings under his own name and also with Fats Waller and Jelly Roll Morton and accompanied such vocalists as Victoria Spivey and Billie Holiday. After a short stint with Benny Goodman, Allen began to lead his own band at the Famous Door in Manhattan. He then toured with the band around the United States into the late 1950s.^{[citation needed]}

In December 1957, Allen appeared with

Allen was Catholic.^{[citation needed]}

Allen returned to working under his own name and made numerous tours of the United States and Europe. He was diagnosed with

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.^[1][2] Allen's recordings received much favorable attention. His versatility is shown by his winning of DownBeat awards in both the traditional jazz and the modern jazz categories.

In 2022, the New Orleans City Council voted to rename "Slidell Street" in Algiers to "Red Allen Way", in his honor.^[6]

Discography

• Red Allen, Kid Ory & Jack Teagarden at Newport (Verve, 1957)
• RCA Victor
  , 1957), later re released as World on a String (1991)
• Mr. Allen (Swingville, 1962)
• The College Concert with Pee Wee Russell (Impulse!, 1966)
• Jazz Standards and Warhorses, with Coleman Hawkins (Jass Records, CD version 1987)
• 1929–1933 (Chronological Classics 540, 1990)

With Langston Hughes

• Weary Blues (MGM, 1959)

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Berendt, Joachim (1976). The Jazz Book. Paladin. pp. 187–188.
2. ^
   ISBN 0-141-00646-3
   .
3. ^
   ISBN 0-85112-580-8
   .
4. ISBN 0-330-28607-2
   .
5. ^ Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14000 Famous Persons, Scott Wilson, Entry No. 186, p. 15
6. ^ Sledge, Matt (January 6, 2022). "Allen Toussaint, New Orleans music icon, gets a boulevard renamed in his honor". nola.com. Retrieved March 17, 2022.

Further reading

• Ride, Red, Ride – The Life of Henry "Red" Allen by
  ISBN 0-304-70407-5

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Henry "Red" Allen.

• Red Hot Jazz site website
• Syncopated Times website
• Henry Allen recordings at the Discography of American Historical Recordings.