“Carl Allen grew up on gospel, R&B, and funk, music but later turned to jazz after hearing a recording by the legendary saxophonist Benny Carter.
With over 225 recordings to his credit, the gifted Milwaukee-born, New York-based drummer, entrepreneur and educator, Carl Allen’s profound and propulsive percolations provided soulful and syncopated support for over four decades. Allen has performed or recorded with Freddie Hubbard, Michael Brecker, Dizzy Gillespie, Randy Brecker, Benny Golson, Christian McBride, Jennifer Holliday, J.J. Johnson, Rickie Lee Jones, Sammy Davis Jr., Branford Marsalis, Kenny Garrett, Lena Horne, Ruth Brown, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Bobby Hutcherson, Mike Stern, Nellie McKay, Terence Blanchard, Phil Woods, Benny Green, Cyrus Chestnut, Joe Henderson, Billy Childs and many others.
In May of 2012 Allen received an honorary doctorate from Snow College in Ephraim, Utah in Humane Letters. Carl spent 12 years and the last 6 as the Artistic Director of Jazz Studies at The Juilliard School in New York City where he was instrumental in creating what was at that time was the best jazz programs in the world.
Carl Allen’s multifaceted career provides the perfect template for what a modern musician should be. As Sid Gribetz of Jazz Times wrote, “more than just another fine drummer, Carl Allen has it all together as a bandleader, businessman, educator and producer, becoming a force in today’s jazz world.” Zildjian