Firehouse 12 Presents Dave Allen Quartet November 4th

Dave Allen, guitar/composer; Loren Stillman, alto saxophone; Drew Gress, bass; Mark Ferber, drums

On Saturday, November 4th, New York-based guitarist/composer Dave Allen and his quartet will celebrate their debut CD, Untold Stories (Fresh Sound New Talent), with a two-set performance at New Haven's Firehouse 12. The CD's nine tracks were conceived as chapters in the same novel and draw on Allen's love of art, film and poetry.

JazzTimes reviewer David Adler called Untold Stories “a fiery and eloquent showing," adding, “Allen brings daunting chops, full-bodied tone and melodic sensitivity to the table on this all-original debut set." AllAboutJazz.com's Budd Kopman wrote, “Allen has no seeming limit to his technique, but he always puts it to good musical ends. His lines are full of twists and turns, but I always hear thought and emotion, not just flying fingers...one does not have to be a guitarist to understand the musical minds at work."

Born in Philadelphia, Allen moved to New York in 1988 to attend the Manhattan School of Music and has worked steadily as a leader and collaborator with many of the city's most exciting young musicians ever since. Critics write, “There's a true sensuality to the guitarist's sound" (Jim Macnie, Village Voice) and “His personal jazz conception is an enviable combination of musical and technical mastery (David Seymour, JazzReview.com). He is currently composing music for his next CD and developing several multimedia projects.

About Firehouse 12:

Firehouse 12 is an award winning full-service bar, state-of-the-art recording studio and unusually intimate performance space located in New Haven's historic Ninth Square District. Painstakingly renovated over the course of four years by owner/producer/ engineer Nick Lloyd and Gray Organschi Architecture, this once-abandoned firehouse building has become a major part of New Haven's cultural renaissance since opening its doors in April 2005. It has also quickly gained a reputation as one of the premier recording studios and creative music venues on the East Coast.

A 2006 Best Studio Design Project nominee for the prestigious Technical Excellence and Creativity (TEC) Awards, the recording studio features world-class acoustic design by renowned acoustician John Storyk of Walters-Storyk Design Group. The striking 1200- square foot space features a Steinway concert grand piano, and doubles as an 80-seat public venue with unparalleled technical possibilities for some of the most respected names in creative music. Past performers include Han Bennink, Tim Berne, Dave Douglas, Susie Ibarra, Joe McPhee, Joe Morris, William Parker and Mario Pavone among many others.

In a June 2005 feature, New Haven Independent's Regina DeAngelo called Firehouse 12 “a north star in the jazz firmament that might well guide music lovers to New Haven from far away." She went on to write, “fabric-covered walls are angled to urge music to flow, not bounce, through a womb-like space. It's almost like sitting in the hull of an instrument. Luckily, the Firehouse attracts people who bring near-religious reverence to the music, producing an exchange of energy that often fires great performances." James Keepnews of the New Haven Advocate echoed DeAngelo's praise, calling the venue a “remarkable new cultural outpost" and “a resounding success." Yale University's Associate Vice President of New Haven and State Affairs Michael Morand recently called the space “a wonderful addition to New Haven's role as the cultural capital of Connecticut."

Complete Fall 2006 Concert Season:

09/22 :: Matthew Shipp
09/29 :: Carla Marciano 4tet
10/06 :: David Berkman Quartet
10/13 :: Nate Wooley and Blue Collar
10/20 :: Andrew Cyrille/Greg Osby Duo
10/27 :: Pete Robbins and Centric
11/04 :: Dave Allen Quartet
11/10 :: Stephen Haynes and Bugaboo
11/17 :: Dominique Eade/Jed Wilson Duo
12/01 :: Ben Allison Quartet
12/08 :: Wayne Escoffery Quartet
12/15 :: Gerald Cleaver & Violet Hour