Brandon Allen

Brandon Allen is an expat Australian saxophonist who has made quite an impression on the scene since taking up residence in London. His wonderfully fluent and incisive sax playing has been heard in prestigious venues all over Europe and at numerous festivals around the world, including the Womad World Music Festival, Reading Festival, Brecon Jazz Festival, The Vittoria and Terrassa Jazz Festivals in Spain, Manly Jazz Festival in Australia and the London Jazz Festival. In London alone he has performed with the likes of Eric Clapton, Mica Paris, Jools Holland, BBC Big Band and Omar, which gives you an idea of just how good he is! The focus of the show this evening will be a tribute to the remarkable Sonny Rollins. Frequently referred to as a 'saxophone colossus', over his seven decade career Rollins was associated with the legends of jazz such as Miles, Parker & Monk, since becoming one himself. To give some sense of his importance, Sonny received dozens of awards (including a Grammy for Lifetime Achievement), won multiple Downbeat polls and New York City even named 13 November 1995 'Sonny Rollins Day'. It will be a real treat to listen to Brandon, along with pianist Sean Fyfe, bassist Simon Reed and drummer Matt Home as they play these modern jazz classics. “Brandon Allen is arguably the most exciting tenor player in Britain today” Jazzwise; "Swing, invention and stunning instrumental technique... a world class performance" Evening Standard; "His four-octave range and flawless command of the altissimo register was nicely offset by his full-bodied yet raucous tonal quality offering something for fans of the entire history of the instrument- from Hawkins to Brecker- he's got em covered." London Jazz