JD Allen

Hailed by the New York Times as “a tenor saxophonist with an enigmatic, elegant and hard-driving style,” JD Allen is a bright rising light on today’s international jazz scene. His unique and compelling voice on the instrument has recently earned Allen a blaze of critical attention signaling his rise to the upper ranks of contemporary jazz. 

A native Detroiter, Allen’s apprenticeship, anchored by his lengthy tenure with Betty Carter, occurred largely in New York, where he worked with legends Lester Bowie, George Cables, Ron Carter, Louis Hayes, Frank Foster Big Band, Butch Morris and Geri Allen

A lifelong artist and community advocatem Allen moved from NYC to Cincinnati during the pandemic and soon after worldwide protests erupted upon Floyd’s death, Allen teamed up with dancer and singer Aleta Brown and alto saxophonist Jacob Duncan, to launch WE INSIST!, a jazz and Black arts action community designed to stimulate discussion and collaboration to protect Black lives through arts education, advocacy and grassroots entrepreneurship.

Website: http://jdallenjazz.com/>
FB:  https://www.facebook.com/TheJDALLENfanpage/
Recordings: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5ACouApJyhZpZ3Eu2DtrlM