LIVE at Piedmont Piano Company
Allan Harris
”The Poetry of Jazz”
"Poetry of Jazz" is where the spoken word gets its groove. Allan Harris, Harlem’s own modern-day troubadour, takes classic poetry — from Shakespeare’s sonnets to Langston Hughes and the Harlem Renaissance — and drops it into the deep pocket of jazz. With his velvet vocals and magnetic presence, he flows between swinging rhythms and soulful recitations, backed by a razor-sharp jazz trio: Freddie Bryant (guitar), David Ewell (bass), and Sylvia Cuenca (drums). This concert is a vibe, a conversation between past and present, where jazz and poetry riff, improvise, and redefine cool.
General Admission
$25 advanced / $30 at the door
We are offering a limited number of seats for this performance. Advanced purchase is recommended. Masking is no longer required.
ALLAN HARRIS
Brooklyn-born and Harlem-based, vocalist/guitarist/composer Allan Harris has earned his place as one of the most exceptional jazz singers of his generation. Described by the Miami Herald as having “the warmth of Tony Bennett, the bite and rhythmic sense of Sinatra, and the sly elegance of Nat ‘King’ Cole,” Harris’s artistry shines through his 14 recordings, globally acclaimed performances, and numerous awards. These accolades include three New York Nightlife Awards for “Outstanding Jazz Vocalist,” the DownBeat Critics Poll Award for “Rising Star Jazz Vocalist,” and the Hot House Jazz Magazine’s “Jazz Vocalist of the Year” in 2015 and 2016. Harris has also received France's Palmares Award for 3rd Best Jazz Vocal Album of 2019 and multiple prestigious grants, including the South Arts Jazz Roads Tour grant. Gilles Peterson—renowned DJ, broadcaster, and tastemaker known for championing innovative artists worldwide—named Harris one of the artists to watch in the U.S. and Europe, solidifying his international appeal. He has shared the stage with icons like Tony Bennett, Diana Krall, Natalie Cole, Abbey Lincoln, Al Jarreau, and Wynton Marsalis. As Variety aptly puts it, “Harris is a velvet-voiced jazz singer, with a savvy manner and music in his veins.” allanharris.com
FREDDIE BRYANT
Freddie received a master’s degree in classical guitar from Yale School of Music and is in demand in the New York jazz and Brazilian scenes where he has worked with Eliane Elias, Tom Harrell and many others. He was a member of Ben Riley’s Monk Legacy Septet and has played with the Mingus Orchestra for two decades. He leads his own group, Kaleidoscope, and has released eight CDs as a leader. His impressive array of guitar styles have been featured on numerous CDs showcasing his work on acoustic and electric guitars. freddiebryant.com
SYLVIA CUENCA
Sylvia Cuenca is an active drummer on the New York and SF Bay Area jazz scenes who is contributing outstanding performances in a variety of situations. She has had the honor of sharing the bandstand with saxophone legend Joe Henderson for 4 years and trumpet legend Clark Terry for 17 years. The Joe Henderson quartet toured frequently in European countries Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Austria, Belgium, England, Switzerland, France, Italy and Germany and venues across the U.S. In a trio setting she performed with Joe Henderson and Charlie Haden in 1989 and with George Mraz in 1994. She performed with the Clark Terry Quintet and Big Band at Village Vanguard, Birdland, Blue Note, Queen Elizabeth 2, Royal Viking, S.S. Norway jazz cruises and clubs, concerts and festivals in the U.S, Europe, the Caribbean and South America. sylviacuenca.com