July 10–17, 1997

critic pick|jazz

Carl Allen hasn't forgotten what Art Blakey told him backstage 15 years ago: "'Listen, man. Whether you realize it or not, you're in my fraternity now,'" said Blakey. "'You're in a fraternity with me, Billy Higgins, Elvin [Jones], Tony [Williams], Roy [Haynes], Max [Roach]' — he named all these great drummers."

At the time, Allen had just joined Freddie Hubbard's group and was quickly gaining notoriety as one of the hottest young drummers on the scene.

The old master's words were sobering for his disciple. "I didn't remember getting that membership card, but what he was saying was once you step up to bat and start waving that banner to say you are a professional jazz drummer, you have a responsibility to uphold the legacy that people have died for to put forth."

The 36-year-old Allen has spent most of his life carrying this percussive torch. "I think I have a close kinship musically to Art Blakey, Elvin Jones and Tony Williams," he says without hesitation. "It's something that I automatically connect with. I've always said if I can't be on a gig where I can play a shuffle or a press roll, it's the wrong gig for me." Like Blakey, Allen has distinguished himself as a first-rate bandleader — his 1994 jazz-gospel album, Testimonial (Atlantic), garnered critical attention for its thematic and compositional maturity. And like Blakey, Allen swings harder and with more exuberance than anyone else in the field.

In recent years, Allen has also made a name for himself as a producer. He founded Big Apple Productions in 1988, an independent company that makes albums primarily for record labels in Japan.

"I was very unhappy with what I saw producers doing on jazz dates," Allen explains. "Often, you see the producer for the first time in the studio and then they want to make suggestions about the music. My thing is, 'Where were you when the music was being developed?'" Allen has produced over 50 albums with Big Apple Productions; works-in-progress include sessions with the Peter Martin Trio, Vincent Herring and Joey Calderazzo.

The last time Allen played in Philadelphia, he accompanied up-and-coming bassist Christian McBride in the old Zanzibar Blue space on 11th Street. Two years later, the club has moved and Allen is leading his own formidable quintet, consisting of guitarist Mark Whitfield, pianist Mulgrew Miller, saxophonist Tim Warfield and bassist Rodney Whitaker. The group will not only perform Allen's music, also tunes written by other members of the band and other composers that fit the characters of these individuals. "It's not about 'The Carl Allen Show,'" he says, "it's about trying to present a collective vision musically."

Carl Allen and The New York All Stars, Sun., July 13, Zanzibar Blue, lower level of the Bellevue, Broad & Walnut Sts., 732-5200; 732-4500 for reservations.

— Nate Chinen