Harvard Courant | Press

OWEN MCNALLY, Special to The Courant
August 21,2011

Jen Allen, a gifted, young pianist/composer, mother of two young children and wife of the noted alto saxophonist Kris Allen, is on a roll this year as she pours more time, energy and creativity into her own promising career.

In a giant step and a required ritual in any jazz artist's career, the 34-year-year old musician, wife, mom, teacher, mentor and musical partner from West Hartford has just released her debut album as a leader, "Pieces of Myself."

It's a smart, elegant showcase for her skills as a pianist and composer featuring seven expressive originals and one fine standard, which resonate with an emotional, memoir-like inspiration. Her tight, talented studio band features trumpeter Josh Evans, husband Kris Allen on alto, guitarist Andrew Renfroe, bassist Dave Baron and drummer Lee Fish.

Jen Allen, a member of the legion of distinguished grads of The Hartt School's Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz, was selected last spring to be a participant in the prestigious Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC…..to read the full article click here.