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Marshall Allen
Marshall Allen - alto saxophone, flute, clarinet, oboe, kora, and E.V.I. (Electronic Valve Instrument).
Marshall Belford Allen, alto saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, bandleader, and arranger, was born May 25, 1924 in Louisville, Kentucky and started clarinet lessons at age 10. At 18, he enlisted in the Army's 92nd Infantry (renowned as the Buffalo Soldiers), playing clarinet and alto saxophone in the 17th Division Special Service Band. Stationed in Paris during World War II, he played with pianist Art Simmons and saxophonist Don Byas, and he toured and recorded with James Moody during the late '40's. Upon honorable discharge, Mr. Allen enrolled in the Paris Conservatory of Music, studying clarinet with Delacluse. Returning to the States in 1951, Marshall settled in Chicago, where he led his own bands, playing in clubs and dance halls, while writing his own music and arrangements, as he continues to do today.
During the mid-'50's, Marshall met Sun Ra and became a student of his precepts. After joining the Sun Ra Arkestra in 1958, Marshall Allen led Sun Ra's formidable reed section for over 40 years (a role akin to the position of Johnny Hodges in the Duke Ellington orchestra). Marshall Allen lived, rehearsed, toured and recorded with Sun Ra almost exclusively for much of his musical career, leading the reed section during the time that the Sun Ra Arkestra won the "Downbeat" polls as number-one big band in 1988 and 1989. As a featured soloist with the Arkestra, Marshall pioneered the avante-garde jazz movement of the early '60's, expanding a style rooted in Johnny Hodges and Don Byas, and influencing all leading avante-garde saxophonists thereafter. During this time, Marshall also invented a woodwind instrument he called the "morrow," utilizing a saxophone mouthpiece attached to an open-hole wooden body. (This instrument is currently being marketed under another name, as Marshall never secured a patent on his invention).
Marshall Allen was one of the first jazz musicians to play traditional African music and what is now called "world music," working frequently with Olatunji and his Drums of Passion. In fact, Marshall is most likely the sole jazz musician who builds and plays the kora (a popular West African multi-stringed instrument), and he has been a major factor in its introduction to American audiences, as well as the world at large.
Marshall Allen is featured on over 200 Sun Ra releases, as well as appearing as special guest soloist in concert and on recordings with such diverse groups as NRBQ, Phish, Sonic Youth, Diggable Planets, Terry Adams, and Medeski, Martin & Wood.
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Sun Ra Arkestra: Lights on a Satellite
by Joshua Weiner
As befits a being whose life encompassed much of the Solar System, from his origins on Saturn to his long earthly sojourn that ended in 1993, Sun Ra composed, played and recorded an astronomical panoply of musical styles across six decades. Lights On A Satellite, a new double album released by Germany's In+Out Records, presents a varied program that serves as a dual tribute to both Ra and Marshall Allen, the recent centenarian who has directed the Sun Ra Arkestra ...
Continue ReadingSun Ra: Lights on a Satellite: Live At The left Bank
by Mark Corroto
Sun Ra's 1978 performance at Baltimore's Left Bank Jazz Society ballroom had something for everyone. The great man and his Arkestra, along with singer June Tyson and dancers, performed jazz from its inception to what Ra predicted (correctly) as its future. This recording is the second unissued discovery from Zev Feldman, the Jazz Detective," and it follows the sprawling At The Showcase: Live In Chicago 1976-1977 (Elemental Music, 2024). These years, the late 1970s, were an interesting time for Ra. ...
Continue ReadingSun Ra: At the Showcase (Live In Chicago, 1976-1977)
by Giuseppe Segala
Moltissime sono le registrazioni di Sun Ra, alcune memorabili. In ognuna si nasconde una tessera, un elemento della sua vitalità inesauribile, della sua ricerca cosmica di torcere, frammentare, lacerare le convenzioni. Di toccare con mano meravigliata i materiali di cui dispone, quasi venissero da altri mondi, da altre dimensioni, da logiche differenti. Sun Ra trascende le convenzioni. Nel corso degli anni, il musicista ha ricevuto costanti attenzioni da parte del pubblico e delle etichette discografiche. Un pubblico che ...
Continue ReadingFats Waller 120 - Marshall Allen 100
by David Brown
In this episode, we celebrate two artists. In the first set, pianist and songwriter Fats Waller who was born 120 years ago this week. In the second set, we celebrate Philadelphia's ambassador to the cosmos, Marshall Allen leader of the Sun Ra Arkestra, who turned 100 on May 25. These two men's lives span the entire jazz continuum. Waller, who was born in 1904 was writing hit songs when Allen was born in 1924. Their lives overlapped by 19 years. ...
Continue ReadingMarshall Allen: A Century of Joyful Noise
by Ian Patterson
Marshall Allen turned 100 years old on May 25, 2024. Back in 1995, when Allen inherited the leadership of the Sun Ra Arkestra at the age of 71, you would have got pretty good odds that he would not be holding the chair nearly thirty years hence. But the cosmology of the Sun Ra Arkestra, and all who sail in her, is nothing if not strange. His international touring days may be behind him, but Allen, who has ...
Continue ReadingSun Ra Arkestra Directed By Marshall Allen: Marshall's Groove
by Ian Patterson
To celebrate the great Marshall Allen's 100th birthday, what better way than to immerse oneself in the all-enveloping, swinging, soaring, saxophone-singing, ensemble- roaring wonder that is Marshall's Groove." After sixty-seven years in the Sun Ra Arkestra, and nearly thirty steering the ship since taking over the leadership role from John Gilmore, this occasion is not just a celebration of Allen's landmark birthday, but of his truly enormous contribution to the music. Happy birthday maestro! ...
Continue ReadingSun Ra: At The Showcase (Live In Chicago, 1976-1977)
by Mike Jurkovic
It is an unchallenged law of nature that wherever or whoever anyone happens to be when they encounter Sun Ra, they are certain to be somewhere and someone else after the meeting. That holds especially true of Sun Ra at the Showcase: Live in Chicago. Captured during two barn-burning performances at the Windy City's venerable Showcase Club in '76 and '77, this limited 2-LP, 2 CD set--released by the equally venerable Zev Feldman's Jazz Detective label to celebrate ...
Continue ReadingOctober Revolution 2018: John Zorn, The music of Legendary Hasaan with Christian McBride, Wolf Eyes & Marshall Allen, and more!
Source:
Ars Nova Workshop
ACCLAIMED PHILADELPHIA FESTIVAL EXPANDS LINEUP The October Revolution of Jazz & Contemporary Music, a four-day international music festival presented by Ars Nova Workshop, in partnership with FringeArts, has confirmed several additional artists for its 2018 lineup as well as announcing single-day tickets. Featuring some of the most groundbreaking and uncategorizable artists in modern music, Ars Nova is pleased to announce that John Zorn, Tomeka Reid Quartet with Mary Halvorson, Christian McBride, as well as Wolf Eyes featuring Marshall Allen all ...
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New book: Picture Infinity - Marshall Allen & The Sun Ra Arkestra
Source:
aurelia boro
Multi-instrumentalist Marshall Allen is among the most striking voices in jazz. His explosive alto saxophone is signature sound of the Sun Ra Arkestra, an iconic African-American big band which he joined in 1958. Succeeding the bands legendary founder Sun Ra who already in his lifetime has turned into a myth of its own, Marshall Allen has directed the Sun Ra Arkestra since 1995. Under the guidance of the 87-year old maestro, the Sun Ra Arkestra has not only survived all ...
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IN + OUT RECORDS announces new releases from Johnny Griffin, the Sun Ra Arkestra under the direction of Marshall Allen, and Ratko Zjaca with John Patitucci, Steve Gadd and Randy Brecker
Source:
Michael Ricci
IN + OUT RECORDS, one of Europe's most enterprising and acclaimed independent jazz labels, with a reputation as a producer of recordings of the highest musical and technical quality established through its twenty-plus years of releasing cutting edge music created by both American and European artists, announces its second release of new recordings to be distributed exclusively in the United States by the Allegro Media Group. Following up on its initial Allegro distributed release of recordings by Billy Cobham, Odean ...
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Under Your Skin / Rockyoumentally Interviews: Terence Blanchard, Eric Mingus, Marshall Allen, Leena Conquest & Wu Fei
Source:
All About Jazz
Under Your Skin" is a cultural mosaic on the art of music and its creators. Terence Blanchard Interview - Working with Spike Lee / Katrina Eric Mingus Interview Leena Conquest Interview Wu Fei Interview ...
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The Vision Club presents Henry Grimes / Marshall Allen Saturday March 19 10PM
Source:
All About Jazz
March 16, 2005 To: Listings/Critics/Features From: The Vision Festival / www.visionfestival.org PRESS Contact: Jim Eigo [email protected] / 845.986.1677 Non-press inquiries, call 212.696.6681 or send email to [email protected] A R T S F O R A R T 508 East 6th Street #3, NYC 10009 Saturday March 19, 2005 THE VISION CLUB presents 10pm Henry Grimes / Marshall Allen At Clemente Soto Velez - LES Gallery 107 Suffolk Street at Rivington Continuing along their 2005 US tour, prodigal bassist Henry Grimes ...
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Henry Grimes & Marshall Allen: Spaceship on the Highway! (3/O5)
Source:
All About Jazz
February 24, 2005 To: Listings/Critics/Features From: JAZZ PROMO SERVICES Friday, March 4th through Saturday, March 19th, 'O5: Henry Grimes & Marshall Allen SPACESHIP ON THE HIGHWAY ! a road tour of the northeastern U.S. < > < > > > < > Contact: Margaret Davis, (212) 841-O899, > < > < > Friday, March 4th: Henry Grimes & Marshall Allen, An Die Musik, 4O9 North Charles St., 2nd floor, Baltimore, Maryland, sets at 8 & 1O p.m., 888-221-617O, , . ...
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Henry Grimes & Marshall Allen on Tour - March 4-19, 2005
Source:
All About Jazz
Friday, March 4th through Saturday, March 19th, 2005 Henry Grimes & Marshall Allen SPACESHIP ON THE HIGHWAY ! A road tour of the northeastern U.S. Contact: Margaret Davis, (212) 841-O899, [email protected] Friday, March 4th: Henry Grimes & Marshall Allen, An Die Musik, 4O9 North Charles St., 2nd floor, Baltimore, Maryland, sets at 8 & 1O p.m., 888-221-617O, www.andiemusiklive.com, [email protected]. Sunday, March 6th: Henry Grimes & Marshall Allen, Brew House (not a brewery, but the former Duquesne ...
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