BIOGRAPHY
A native of Auburn, Alabama, Allen was exposed to blues and R&B at an early age. Moving into jazz and fusion in his teens, he attended Berklee College of Music and shortly after, moved to Los Angeles on a scholarship through Guitar Player Magazine to attend Musician’s Institute, where he has remained on staff to the present.
Allen has 5 solo c.d’s under his name with a 6th due out “The Good Fight” on SRG records. And his version of “Keep Forgettin’” is shooting up the charts as we speak , and can be heard often on Sirius FM Also .. check out Wonderland Park c.d. “Just Get In”. As well “Held to a Different Standard” with Brad Rabuchin. Allens music can be heard on Spotify as well in many cable TV show such as “Sons of Guns” "Pawn stars” “National geographic specials” and many more
Besides a solo career, and being a regular featured artist in Guitar Techniques, the Guitarist and other magazine,Allen has instruction books available “Liquid Legato” M.I. Hal Leonard, “Melodic Improv” on Truefire and and “fusion blues soloing” available at Fundamental Changes.
Allen has performed and/or recorded with jazz and R&B luminaries including Hiroshima, Randy Crawford, Gino Vannelli, Patti Austin, Roberta Flack, Stevie Wonder, Jon Waite, BeBe and CeCe Winan, The Crusaders, Bobby Caldwell, James Ingram, Joan Baez and many, many others.
Currently Allen is teaching private lessons on Zoom as well as the monthly workshop with Jon Herington
photo by Johnny Buzzerio
I’ve been lucky
to perform around the world with the greatest bands including Bobby Caldwell, Gino Vannelli and so many others.. well and especially my guys
with Gino Vannelli
with the guys and gal…we rock big time but at a higher level than most….Donald Barret, Matt Rohde, Max and Travis!! yeah baby!
Looking for “more” Allen began recording his own music several years ago….all to critical acclaim by musicians and magazines worldwide, his c.d.s “Fact of the Matter”, “Beyond it All”, “Falling Up”, and “Monkeys and Slides””Fly South” and Wonderland Park’s “Just Get In” with Peter Hastings and Chris Wobich are available on I-Tunes, Amazon, and C.D. Baby.com
His c.d’s feature and amazing array of musicians..such as Jimmy Johnson, Vinnie Coaliuta, Abraham Laboriel, Genevieve Artadi, Maxayn Lewis, Jeff Babko, Dave Hooper, Matt Rhodi, JV Collier, Randy Crawford, Tolak Olestaad, Jimmy Earl, Jimmy Haslip, Will Kennedy, Reinhardt Melz, Mark McMilllen, Roberto Vally, Dave Hughes,.Hanz Zermuellan, Joey Heredia, Brian Simpson, and many others……
On staff at “Musician’s Institute” and “Shepherd University’s CSCM” Allen offers a musical blend of jazz, blues, and rock with a “grassroots” style. One might hear guitar influences like Ry Cooder to Pat Metheny, Robben Ford to Alan Holdsworth.
Allen has also done clinics and master classes worldwide, concentrating on improvisational techniques, learning shortcuts,legato technique ,slide playing, as well as a focus on common problem solving for young and aspiring guitarists. His approach is thorough and contemporary.
Being an active studio musician as well as live performer, he has written songs for Larry Carlton, Patti Austin, Jeff Kashiwa as well as many new cable t.v. shows.. “Duck Dynasty”, “Pawn Stars”, “Build it Bigger”, “Son’s of Gun” … just to name a few.