Fletcher Allen

Bedford Fletcher Allen ( born July 26, 1905 in La Crosse, Wisconsin; † August 5, 1995 in New York City ) was an American jazz musician ( saxophone, clarinet ), composer and arranger.

Life and work

Allen began his career at Lloyd Scott in New York City. In 1927 he was in the band of Leon Abbey for the first time to Europe. In 1929 he worked in Budapest at Benny Peyton; In 1936 he went with Abbey on tour to India. In the late 1930s he lived in Paris, where he led his own band, for which he wrote compositions and played in, inter alia, Marcel Bianchi and Alix Combelle. He also belonged to the orchestra of trumpeter Freddy Taylor. Recordings were made in 1937 for Pathé. Allen also participated in recordings of Louis Armstrong, Benny Carter / Django Reinhardt ( " I'm Coming Virginia ", March 1938 ) with. His compositions include Blue Drag, Swingin ' in Paris and Viper 's Dream. End of 1938, Allen was a member of the Harlem Rhythmakers on tour to Egypt, where he stayed for two years. With the outbreak of World War II, he returned to the United States and worked as a baritone saxophonist in various New York big bands, in the early 1970s with Fred "Taxi" Mitchell.

Disco Graphical Notes

• Fletcher Allen / Arthur Briggs / Philippe Brun / Alix Combelle: Swing Sessions Volume 4 ( Pathé )