Lee Allen

• Lee Allen - Piano, Bass, Drums

Memphis, Tennessee. MIT. Carolina Piedmont. Silicon Valley. Blues in Mississippi. Taiko in Kyoto. Lee is on a quest, and it shows in his music.

The quest? To go beyond diversity. How we each are different is just a start; Lee is seeking to know how we are the same. And it shows in his music.

The goal? Bring out the very best of every music. 'The most important quality of a good arranger is insight', says Allen. 'You've got to size up the song as though it were a person - it actually is somebody's baby, you know.' Bring out the key strengths, apply insight, look at the song a new way - the result is an arrangement that speaks directly to the listener's heart.

Insight, in this case, has been gained from a varied playing history that started when Lee began playing Memphis nightclubs at the age of 14 (don't tell!) in the late 60's. Lee later helped introduce a gospel choir to MIT (and also was pianist in the university's A-list jazz band for four years), arranged for singers during the '70's and '80's, and organized music programs in Cambridge, Massachusetts and Silicon Valley, California. One summer job was to tour Mississippi with soul legends Ollie Nightingale and one known only as "Big Daddy". Afterwards Lee returned to MIT to play under the direction of Herb Pomeroy of the Berklee School of Music.

Lee does not use any high-minded labels for his work. 'It's just pop,' Lee says. 'But I believe that pop music is very important because it indicates where we stand musically at any given time.'

'Music is a language of feelings and emotions. So, when I arrange or compose, I imagine a listener saying 'I am opening a door to my feelings, don't abuse my trust'.

Lee seeks the themes that unify us and inspire us, that build us up. And it shows in his music.

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For more than 20 years, Lee Allen has provided the realistic sound of a three- to five-piece jazz/pop ensemble from a single person, thanks to music technology and extensive preparation.

Lee's musical approach to arranging is to deliver familiar melodies seen a new way, while preserving the message and spirit of the original song. A former bassist and drummer, Lee is able to compose the bass and drum parts from scratch according to his original arrangements, and pre-play these parts into his equipment for use with his live piano performance. For Lee, the technology is at its best when it is invisible and simply providing a great listening experience.

Lee has performed successfully with great feedback from customers at restaurants, receptions, corporate parties and private parties -- for example, Lee performed jazz-trio music at Ray's Ristorante in Atlanta's Lenox Square for eighteen months with excellent response from the owners and customers, and August 2008 marked Lee’s third consecutive year at Faz Mediterranean Restaurant in Sunnyvale, California, where he performs on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights. Some other places at which Lee has performed in the Bay area: * AP Stump's, San Jose * Byington Winery, Los Gatos * Hayes Mansion, San Jose * Hilton San Jose * Hilton San Francisco * Hilton Concord * HS Lordship's, Berkeley * Italian Athletic Club, San Francisco * Mark Hopkins Hotel, San Francisco * Mountain Winery, Saratoga * Palace Hotel, San Francisco * San Mateo CA Public Library * Saratoga Foothill Club, Saratoga * Sonoma Chicken Coop, Campbell * Super Steer Steak House, Dos Palos * Tarragon Restaurant, Sunnyvale * W Hotel, San Francisco

Outside the Bay area: * Brookhaven Country Club, Atlanta * Cafe' Milan, Atlanta (six months) * Colony Square Hotel Crown Room, Atlanta * Doubletree Hotel, Atlanta * Florentina Restaurant, Cambridge MA * Georgia World Congress Center * Marriott Marquis, Atlanta * Metropolitan Golf and Racquet Club, Atlanta * Ray's Ristorante, Atlanta (1 1/2 years)

Lee's special technique and capabilities make for extremely competitive pricing for events requiring background music, such as receptions and dinners.

Working with Lee Allen on your event is a worry-free experience. Gigmasters automatically sends Lee Allen notification of your selection of his services. Lee Allen will then contact you to confirm the location, time and any other relevant details of your event. Lee Allen uses Google Maps™ to locate your venue and to develop driving directions; with this information Lee Allen will develop a timetable to arrive at least one hour before the event start time for setup and any other preparation. At the end of the event, teardown and exit are quick and non-disruptive. By professionally planning and executing music services, Lee Allen’s goal is to give you one less thing to worry about as you plan and manage your event.

Lee Allen is a member of the Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce, the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce, and ASCAP.

• Hundreds of Songs!
• Song list available by request
• Titles can be a little misleading, however - because of my unique arrangements

Anniversaries, Awards Nights, Banquets, Casinos, Church Services, Clubs, Conventions, Corporate Functions, Country Clubs, Cruise Ships, Fund Raisers, Grand Openings, Hotels, Jingles, Movie Soundtracks, Private Parties, Resorts, Restaurants, Studio Session, TV Soundtracks, Weddings

• Mr. Lee Allen is a true professional. My Christmas Party was a wonderful success! Everyone of my guests truly enjoyed the musical talents of Mr. Allen. I would recommend him to any of my friends. Thank you very much. Linda Raskin -- Linda R, San Francisco, CA, 12/16/2006
• Excellent -- Elizabeth W, Sacramento, CA, 2/15/2006
• Lee was on time, had everything set up and ready to go and did a great job of entertaining our guests. We were very pleased with his services and his professional courtesies. -- Suzi B, Sunnyvale, CA, 12/20/2006

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