Allan Harris Band at Blue LLama Jazz Club

Ever since he burst on the jazz scene in the latter part of the twentieth century, The Brooklyn-born, Harlem-based vocalist/guitarist/bandleader/composer Allan Harris has reigned supreme as the most accomplished and exceptional singer of his generation. Aptly described by the Miami Herald as an artist blessed with, “the warmth of Tony Bennett, the bite and rhythmic sense of Sinatra, and the sly elegance of Nat ‘King' Cole,” the ample and aural evidence of Harris’ moving and magisterial artistry can be heard on his fourteen recordings as a leader; his far-flung and critically-acclaimed concerts around the world, from Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York, and Washington DC’s Kennedy Center, to the 2012 London Olympics, and a many prestigious bookings in Europe, The Middle East and Asia....

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Ever since he burst on the jazz scene in the latter part of the twentieth century, The Brooklyn-born, Harlem-based vocalist/guitarist/bandleader/composer Allan Harris has reigned supreme as the most accomplished and exceptional singer of his generation. Aptly described by the Miami Herald as an artist blessed with, “the warmth of Tony Bennett, the bite and rhythmic sense of Sinatra, and the sly elegance of Nat ‘King' Cole,” the ample and aural evidence of Harris’ moving and magisterial artistry can be heard on his fourteen recordings as a leader; his far-flung and critically-acclaimed concerts around the world, from Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York, and Washington DC’s Kennedy Center, to the 2012 London Olympics, and a many prestigious bookings in Europe, The Middle East and Asia.

He has won numerous awards which include the New York Nightlife Award for “Outstanding Jazz Vocalist” – which he won three times – the Backstage Bistro Award for “Ongoing Achievement in Jazz,” France's Palmarès Award for 3rd best Jazz Vocal Album, the Harlem Speaks “Jazz Museum of Harlem Award” the DownBeat Critics Award as “Rising Star Vocalist,” Two New York Hot House Jazz Magazine Awards “Best Male Vocalist,” PACE Award “Best Jazz Vocalist-Miami,” Aspen Summer Words Literary Festival, Voices of the West “Lyrically Speaking,” nominated for NYMF Award “Best Of Fest Song” for the tune I Must Believe, nominated for four Audelco Awards for his musical Cross That River, selected to premier at first ASCAP New Musical Theatre Workshop and recipient of the Chamber Music America Residency Grant Award.

With 10,850 followers on Facebook and over 400,000 views on YouTube, Allan Harris has been in constant demand to entertain audiences throughout the world. He has performed with or opened for the following artists: Tony Bennett, Dionne Warwick, Diana Krall, Abbey Lincoln, Natalie Cole, comedian Alan King, Al Jarreau, Reverend Al Green, Lee Ritenour, Michael Feinstein, Cassandra Wilson, and Wynton Marsalis.

In addition, Allan Harris has sung or recorded with big bands and Orchestras around the world such as: The Metropole Orchestra, The Berlin Jazz Orchestra, The Smithsonian Jazz Orchestra, the Moscow Jazz Orchestra, the RTE National Concert Orchestra, The Chicago Jazz Orchestra, The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, The Turkish TRT Big Band, Latvian Radio Orchestra, and the EFG London Jazz Festival Orchestra. He also recorded two CDs for the Mons label; It’s a Wonderful World, a sumptuous sextet date featuring pianist Benny Green, bassist Ray Brown, guitarist Mark Whitfield and trumpeter Claudio Roditi, and Here Comes Allan Harris and The Metropole Orchestra; a grand affair with Harris fronting the celebrated fifty four-piece German ensemble. Harris’ reverent recordings are augmented by his many radio broadcasts including NPR’s JazzSet with Dee Dee Bridgewater and Piano Jazz; Michael Feinstein's Series: More Than a Song and, The Genius of Eddie Jefferson live from Jazz at Lincoln Center. Back in Harlem, Harris is the jazz vocal King of New York, as evidenced by his potpourri of engagements, including an impressive run as a featured soloist and producer of Sotheby’s three-year jazz series. His commitment to education is as equally impressive as his recordings and engagements. A D'Angelico guitarist, Harris is a long-time supporter of the St. Mary’s Children’s Hospital’s, Agahoso-Shalom Youth Village and donates a performance every year to Challenge Aspen/America, along with Vince Gill and Amy Grant. Harris says “I’m a storyteller through the genre of jazz.”

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