Mod May Promotions

January 23, 2014: MIKE ALLEN QUARTET Releases “Panorama” with Vancouver Show

December 9th, 2013 . by Mod May

MIKE ALLEN QUARTET
WITH SPECIAL GUEST, HUGH FRASER

Presented by Legacy Jazz Series and Coastal Jazz & Blues Society
with support from Canada Council for the Arts

The Legacy Jazz Series and Coastal Jazz & Blues Society are proud to present the Mike Allen Quartet, with special guest Hugh Fraser, at the Vancouver East Cultural Centre (The Cultch) on January 23rd, 2014. The event celebrates the release of Panorama, the latest recording from the respected Vancouver quartet. A perfect way to warm up a cold evening, jazz up a January night with tickets to the show, and take home the soulful genius of the Mike Allen Quartet’s dazzling new collection of music. Media may download the album or listen in the links below.

WHERE: The Cultch, 1895 Venables
WHEN: Thursday, January 23, 2014
Doors 7:30pm | Show 8:00pm
HOW: Advance Tickets at the Cultch Box Office, by phone at (604) 251-1363 or TheCultch.com, $20 General | $15 Senior | $10 Student
WHO: Mike Allen (saxophones), Hugh Fraser (trombone), Miles Black (piano), Adam Thomas (bass), Julian MacDonough (drums)

Click Poster to Download Hi-Res

Mike Allen has been called an “original in the making”, and “the top saxophonist in the country”, and with his new album, he’s proving the critics right once again. Known for his broad sound and engaging improvisational approach, Western Canadian Music Award winner Allen is Director of Jazz at Western Washington University, and his quartet, WWU’s in-residence jazz ensemble. In the 1990′s, Mike forged his style in the bands of guitarist Sonny Greenwich, drummer Pete Magadini and bassist Chuck Israels. As band leader, in addition to eleven albums and four national tours, Mike has played at the Warsaw Jazz Jamboree, and performed on separate occasions for the Prime Minister of Canada and Princes Charles, William and Harry. Mike’s sax playing can also be heard on Michael Buble’s Grammy Award winning album “Crazy Love”.

“Besides his stunning, smooth, smoky tone and relentless attack, Allen’s true strength is his ability to pace and phrase his solos in a way that draws a listener into the music.”
Dave Coon, Planet Jazz

Hugh Fraser has been a celebrated trombonist for many years, through residencies in New York, London and Vancouver. He’s won two JUNO awards, been the head of the jazz program at the Banff Centre, and presented jazz workshops across Canada and in Ireland. Hugh is only Canadian participant in Orlando “Maraca” Valle’s 2011 DVD release of the Latin Jazz All Stars, he is included in the top six albums in all genres by Downbeat Magazine. He also performs regularly with his dear friend Chucho Valdes where one of Hugh’s additions to this iconical pianist’s composition has been standard performance and educational fare in Cuba.