J.D. Allen is a tenor saxophonist. Allen was born December 11, 1972 in Detroit, Michigan. Allen is part of the third generation of Young Lion mainstream jazz musicians. He was inspired by Detroit’s great musicians as a young man. But, it was New York City that he began his true apprenticeship. His collaborators included Betty Carter and Ron Carter, Jack DeJohnette as well as Frank Foster’s Loud Minority Big Band, Butch Morris and David Murray. Orrin Evans and Winard Harper were his contemporary collaborators. Eric Revis, Marcus Gilmore. Russell Gunn. Meshell Ndegeocello. Dave Douglas. Duane Eubanks. Jeremy Pelt. Fabio Morgera. Elisabeth Kontomanou. Lucian Ban. Allen’s first recording on Criss Cross, In Search Of …,, won him the award for Best New Artist in Italy 1999. Reviewers were impressed by his bold playing and original compositions. He began touring with Cindy Blackman’s band that year and recorded his first album for Criss Cross. Pharoah’s Children was his second Criss cross date and was chosen by Jazziz magazine as the Top Ten Album of 2002. Allen signed to Sunnyside Records, where he released three critically acclaimed albums: 2008’s I Am I Am!, 2009’s Shine! and 2011, 2011’s Victory! Before moving to Savant Records. His 2012 debut album, The Matador and the Bull, and its follow-up Grace, were both released on the label. He was awarded two consecutive Downbeat Critics poll awards as a Tenor Saxophonist and composer. For 2014’s Bloom, Allen expanded his trio to include a quartet. He drew on three main inspirations: 20th-century classical music, Great American Songbook and post-bop jazzimprovisation. Seven of the ten tunes were written by him. He formed a new band with Gregg August, bassist, and Rudy Royston for 2015’s Graffiti. The album was praised by many critics. The group returned to Americana: Musings of Jazz and Blues the next year. Although the album was mostly original, it also featured the Delta classic “Another Man Done Gone” by Vera Hall, and the contemporary saxophonist Bill McHenry’s “If You’re Lonesome. Then You’re Not Alone.” Allen said it was his most personal album. Allmusic
