Gene Allen (musician)
Gene Allen (actually Eugene Sufana , born December 5, 1928 in Chicago ; † February 14, 2008 ) was an American jazz musician ( clarinet , bass clarinet , baritone saxophone , other woodwind instruments ).
Allen began performing professionally when he was twelve when he played in his brother George's band in the Gary, Indiana area . At the age of 15 he was a member of the Louis Prima orchestra , with whom he toured and made his first recordings. In the post-war years he worked with Claude Thornhill , Tex Beneke , the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra and with Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey , later with Benny Goodman , Nat Pierce , Woody Herman and Gerry Mulligan , of whose Tentett and Gerry Mulligan Concert Jazz Band he belonged. Allen has also worked with Thelonious Monk ( Big Band and Quartet in Concert , 1964), Chet Baker , Bob Brookmeyer , Phil Sunkel , Tony Fruscella , Billy VerPlanck , Dick Meldonian , Sabu Martinez and George Russell ( New York, NY ; 1959); he also accompanied vocalists Sarah Vaughan , Ella Fitzgerald , Joe Mooney , Teri Thornton , Lee Wiley and Maxine Sullivan . After touring for 25 years, Allen settled in New York City, where he still worked with Hal Grant and performed regularly at Club Copacabana . He studied at the Juilliard School with Hall Overton and Manny Albam .
In the field of jazz he was involved in 149 recording sessions between 1944 and 1971.
Web links
- Gene Allen at Allmusic (English)
- Gene Allen at Discogs (English)
Individual evidence
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Allen, Gene |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Sufana, Eugene (real name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American jazz musician |
| DATE OF BIRTH | December 5, 1928 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Chicago |
| DATE OF DEATH | February 14, 2008 |