Eddie Allen (jazz musician)

Eddie Allen (born January 6, 1957, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist, composer, arranger, and educator.

Allen is a versatile musician whose style encompasses a wide range of jazz idioms, including swing, bebop, hard bop, post-bop, and avant-garde. He is known for his powerful tone, technical proficiency, and improvisational skills.

Allen began his musical journey playing trumpet in elementary school. He later studied at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music and Rutgers University. He moved to New York City in the early 1980s and quickly became a prominent figure in the city's vibrant jazz scene.

Throughout his career, Allen has performed and recorded with numerous notable jazz artists, including Lester Bowie, Art Blakey, Randy Weston, Benny Carter, Joe Henderson, Muhal Richard Abrams, Chico Freeman, Cecil Taylor, and Steve Turre. He has also led his own ensembles, showcasing his compositions and arrangements.

Allen's discography includes several albums as a leader and numerous appearances as a sideman. He is a dedicated educator, having taught at institutions such as the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music and the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music. He continues to perform and record actively, contributing significantly to the contemporary jazz landscape. He has also worked in musical theater, including productions on Broadway.