John Allee

“It is impossible to describe the many impressions that John's narrative musical novel has… The album's 17 tracks are like a movie of our lives. It makes us think, think, reconsider. It touches our essence. It shows humanity.”

- Zsuzsanna Hegedüs, JazzMa

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“Appealingly literate lyrics…. Allee has a light voice that has soft, slightly sandy edges and a natural lilt. In another era, one might have called him “hip." My favorite cut is “Until the Money’s Gone"... My foot taps on its own. The song is timeless."

- Alix Cohen, Cabaret Scenes

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“His Sammy Cahn Award-winning songwriting skills are stellar...If I were a recording artist, I would gobble-up these excellently written songs and record them myself.  John Allee has a way of painting pictures with his words, as though we are watching a film...“John Allee has that same magic as an exceptional songwriter.”

- Dee Dee McNeil, Musical Memoirs

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"Superbly performed with a septet of talented musicians...Allee improvises, scats and grooves through his poignant lyrics...Whether he is singing with jazz-infused buoyancy, in a sweet reflective side, in a laid-back pop groove or with dizzying scatting, Allee does it all in surprising ways."

- Paula Edelstein, Sounds of Timeless Jazz

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"Allee sings with sardonic wit and writes with the cleverness of Dave Frishberg on this album of originals."

- George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly

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“A compelling and richly textured cast of characters and perspectives. Whether they're more inspired by people he has actually met or sparked fully from the imagination of this Renaissance man who's also a playwright and long-careered actor, it's a marvelously motley crew...“The eclectic mix of musical styles has strong elements of jazz, blues, and folk, with projected attitudes that can be wry, dejected, resilient, vulnerable, or cynical. Character pieces recall the chameleon-like M.O. of Randy Newman in the way he steps into the shoes of people from all walks of life. The more poetic and pensive elements are akin to the works of Joni Mitchell."

- Rob Lester, Talkin' Broadway

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"John is a talented actor, songwriter, singer, and pianist who assembles a strong supporting band to perform 17 originals. There’s the blues of “Until the Money’s Gone” with Jeff Kaye (t) and Javier Vergara (t-sax) adding sweet harmonies. They swing hard on “Hard Sell”, bounce on “A Typical Paris Affair” featuring Adam Bravo (p). Allee is pleasant all the way through crooning on “Truth Be Told”, and singing convincing pop, blues, and jazz."

- D. Oscar Groomes, O’s Place Jazz Magazine

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"Allee is a talented man whose observations on life convey humor and insight. Accompanied by an acoustic band led by a talented pianist, this excellent work demonstrates his skills as a performer in a wide range of genres,

from jazz and blues, to Presley-esque rock'n'roll."

- Hiroshi Ogawa, Jazz Life Japan

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"The songwriter and vocalist John Allee doesn’t shy away from jazz, blues and folk on this 4th studio album that enlists some excellent players for songs that make observations about relationships and love... A listen that just might make you examine people and their various positions in your life, Allee and company make for a thoughtful jazz affair that will always be relevant."
- Tom Haugen, Take Effect

 

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