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Verified Global Musician

Carl Allen

Carl Allen is a drummer, bandleader, producer, and educator whose career connects leader recordings with long-running ensemble and mentoring work.

DrumsBandleaderProducerEducator24 current shows

Photo source · Official artist media

Career Overview

About Carl Allen

Allen's official biography follows his path from Milwaukee through jazz-performance study in Wisconsin and New Jersey, then into an eight-year run as Freddie Hubbard's musical director. It documents a broad sideman career alongside his work as a leader and producer.[1]

His artist-run catalog separates leader recordings from work with Freddie Hubbard, Jackie McLean, Benny Green, Art Farmer, Vincent Herring, Donald Harrison, and others. The same site places education and production alongside performing as continuing parts of his practice.[1][2]

Ensembles and Career Threads

Bands & Projects

Drummer and musical director

Freddie Hubbard's band

Early career; eight-year musical-director tenure

Allen's biography says he joined Hubbard before graduating from college, later serving as musical director for eight years and recording projects including Double Take and Life Flight.[1][2]

Leader and drummer

Carl Allen leader groups

Allen's leader catalog begins with Piccadilly Square and continues through Atlantic and Mack Avenue projects, including The Pursuer, Testimonial, Get Ready, Work to Do, and Tippin'.[1][2]

Educator, workshop director, and producer

New York Jazz Symposium and production work

The official biography describes the New York Jazz Symposium as the educational branch of Allen's Nella Productions and records a substantial parallel career producing other artists.[1]

Selected, Not Exhaustive

Recordings to Know

1989 · Timeless Records

Piccadilly Square

Leader and drummer

Allen's official biography identifies Piccadilly Square as his first release as a leader.[1][2]

Release details

2007 · Mack Avenue Records

Get Ready

Co-leader with Rodney Whitaker

The artist biography describes this co-led project as Allen's gospel- and Motown-accented Mack Avenue debut.[1][2]

Release details

Mack Avenue Records

Work to Do

Co-leader with Rodney Whitaker

The official catalog presents Work to Do as the follow-up to Get Ready and notes saxophonist Kirk Whalum's participation.[1][2]

Release details

Artist-Authorized Destinations

Start Listening

Official music catalog

Browse Allen's leader albums and selected sideman discography on his artist-run music page.

Tippin' on Spotify

Open the album destination linked directly from Allen's official home page.

Tippin' on Apple Music

Hear the album through the Apple Music release link published by Allen's official site.

Live Calendar

Upcoming Jazz DateBook Shows

Wed, Aug 26, 6:30 PM

Bird Lives! A Charlie Parker Birthday Celebration feat. The Vincent Herring & Eric Alexander Quintet

Smoke Jazz Club · New York

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Wed, Aug 26, 8:30 PM

Bird Lives! A Charlie Parker Birthday Celebration feat. The Vincent Herring & Eric Alexander Quintet

Smoke Jazz Club · New York

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Thu, Aug 27, 6:30 PM

Bird Lives! A Charlie Parker Birthday Celebration feat. The Vincent Herring & Eric Alexander Quintet

Smoke Jazz Club · New York

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Thu, Aug 27, 8:30 PM

Bird Lives! A Charlie Parker Birthday Celebration feat. The Vincent Herring & Eric Alexander Quintet

Smoke Jazz Club · New York

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Fri, Aug 28, 6:30 PM

Bird Lives! A Charlie Parker Birthday Celebration feat. The Vincent Herring & Eric Alexander Quintet

Smoke Jazz Club · New York

Show details

Fri, Aug 28, 8:30 PM

Bird Lives! A Charlie Parker Birthday Celebration feat. The Vincent Herring & Eric Alexander Quintet

Smoke Jazz Club · New York

Show details

Fri, Aug 28, 10:00 PM

Bird Lives! A Charlie Parker Birthday Celebration feat. The Vincent Herring & Eric Alexander Quintet

Smoke Jazz Club · New York

Show details

Sat, Aug 29, 6:30 PM

Bird Lives! A Charlie Parker Birthday Celebration feat. The Vincent Herring & Eric Alexander Quintet

Smoke Jazz Club · New York

Show details

Sat, Aug 29, 8:30 PM

Bird Lives! A Charlie Parker Birthday Celebration feat. The Vincent Herring & Eric Alexander Quintet

Smoke Jazz Club · New York

Show details

Sat, Aug 29, 10:00 PM

Bird Lives! A Charlie Parker Birthday Celebration feat. The Vincent Herring & Eric Alexander Quintet

Smoke Jazz Club · New York

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Sun, Aug 30, 6:30 PM

Bird Lives! A Charlie Parker Birthday Celebration feat. The Vincent Herring & Eric Alexander Quintet

Smoke Jazz Club · New York

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Sun, Aug 30, 8:30 PM

Bird Lives! A Charlie Parker Birthday Celebration feat. The Vincent Herring & Eric Alexander Quintet

Smoke Jazz Club · New York

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Tue, Sep 15, 8:00 PM

BILL CHARLAP TRIO

Village Vanguard · New York

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Tue, Sep 15, 10:00 PM

BILL CHARLAP TRIO

Village Vanguard · New York

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Wed, Sep 16, 8:00 PM

BILL CHARLAP TRIO

Village Vanguard · New York

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Wed, Sep 16, 10:00 PM

BILL CHARLAP TRIO

Village Vanguard · New York

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Thu, Sep 17, 8:00 PM

BILL CHARLAP TRIO

Village Vanguard · New York

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Thu, Sep 17, 10:00 PM

BILL CHARLAP TRIO

Village Vanguard · New York

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Fri, Sep 18, 8:00 PM

BILL CHARLAP TRIO

Village Vanguard · New York

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Fri, Sep 18, 10:00 PM

BILL CHARLAP TRIO

Village Vanguard · New York

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Sat, Sep 19, 8:00 PM

BILL CHARLAP TRIO

Village Vanguard · New York

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Sat, Sep 19, 10:00 PM

BILL CHARLAP TRIO

Village Vanguard · New York

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Sun, Sep 20, 8:00 PM

BILL CHARLAP TRIO

Village Vanguard · New York

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Sun, Sep 20, 10:00 PM

BILL CHARLAP TRIO

Village Vanguard · New York

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Sources

Career copy is original synthesis from the artist, label, and project sources below. Current dates come from Jazz DateBook event inventory.

  1. [1] Official biography

    Carl Allen

  2. [2] Official leader and selected sideman discography

    Carl Allen

  3. [3] Official promotional photographs and biography

    Carl Allen