Harry Allen Quartet - A Little Touch Of Harry (1997)

Much lauded by jazz critics, 32-year-old tenor saxophonist Harry Allen is an example of perfection in motion on this collaboration with pianist Kenny Barron, bassist George Mraz, and drummer Al Foster. Throughout the 12 standards, Allen shows plenty of versatility, passion, precision, and panache. Working with one of the best New York rhythm sections, the saxophonist maintains a honey-toned sound at any tempo, not unlike performances on 17 earlier recordings. Allen is broadly talented. He capably refreshes bop-ish numbers ("From This Moment On" and "I Never Knew"), medium-swingers ("Luck Be A Lady Tonight" and "Easy To Love"), and a samba ("It Might as Well Be Spring"). Best, though, are his burnished, breathy tender tenorisms on ballads such as "Nobody’s Heart," "This Is All I Ask," "Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most," and the finale, "I Get Along Without You Very Well." Indeed, a little touch of Harry goes a long way. Factor in the skills of Barron, Mraz, and Foster, and you have a welcome addition to any album collection. ~ Nancy Ann Lee, Jazztimes.com.

Sound Hills Records, SSCD8083, 1997

Recorded in 1997

Personnel:

Harry Allen - Tenor Saxophone

Kenny Barron - Piano

George Mraz - Bass

Al Foster - Drums

Tracks:

01. From This Moment On {Cole Porter} (6:26)

02. Luck Be A Lady Tonight {Frank Loesser} (5:28)

03. Nobody's Heart {Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart} (4:48)

04. Just Like Another Dream {Harry Allen, Gloria Planner)} (4:45)

05. All God's Chillin' Got Rhythm {Walter Jurmann, Gus Kahn, Bronisław Kaper} (4:16)

06. I Wanna Be Around {Sadie Vimmerstedt, ‎Johnny Mercer} (6:36)

07. This Is All I Ask {Gordon Jenkins} (6:38)

08. I Never Knew {Gus Kahn, Ted FioRito} (4:28)

09. It Might As Well Be Spring {Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II} (6:35)

10. Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most {Tommy Wolf, Fran Landesman} (6:19)

11. Easy To Love {Cole Porter} (6:16)

12. I Get Along Without You Very Well {Hoagy Carmichael} (4:07)

Total Time: 66:42