Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Jen Allen: Pieces Of Myself

Jen Allen: Pieces Of Myself

By Karl Ackermann
January 8, 2012
View read count

Jen Allen's debut as a leader, Pieces of Myself, is an eclectic collection of original compositions. Among the members of the pianist, composer and educator's sextet is her husband, saxophonist

Kris Allen

saxophone, alto

" data-original-title="" title="">Kris Allen, and

Thelonious Monk

piano
1917 - 1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Thelonious Monk International Jazz Bass Competition finalist,

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Baron. Allen, who studied cello prior to switching to jazz piano, draws on her broad musical experience to display her versatility as a composer and an arranger. The styles displayed on Pieces of Myself vary from funky to straight-ahead ballads, with enough improvisation to keep the sound smart and sharp.

The title track opens the collection with one of the more forceful grooves, though Allen's arrangement is more thoughtful and slightly edgier than standard fare. She allows trumpeter

Josh Evans

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Josh Evans to share the lead for a good portion of the piece and he handles it beautifully. A student of

Jackie McLean

saxophone, alto
1932 - 2006

" data-original-title="" title="">Jackie McLean, Evans has performed with the likes of pianist

Cedar Walton

piano
1934 - 2013

" data-original-title="" title="">Cedar Walton and drummer

Rashied Ali

drums
1935 - 2009

" data-original-title="" title="">Rashied Ali. In a similarly funky vein, "The Repercussions" has both Allens taking some tasteful solos. "Once Again" slows down the tempo but maintains a popping rhythm before "Pining" returns to a more complex and driving rhythm.

The most dramatic change of pace comes with "Good Friday," which opens with Fr��d��ric Chopin's "Prelude in E-Minor (op.28 no. 4)," seamlessly manipulated by the pianist into an excellent, improvised creation of her own. Drummer

Lee Fish

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Lee Fish guides the shift with a light touch before Baron takes an excellent extended solo. It's from this point on that Pieces of Myself really takes off as an inventive post-modern pleasure, as the group hits its stride and plays with abandon on "Marble Hill" and "In Between The Lines," which features scorching solos from Evans and both Allens that are among the high points of the album.

Pieces of Myself closes with the only cover, Ray Nobel's "The Very Thought of You." Allen applies a very distinct and innovative post-bop treatment that makes a somewhat overdone tune feel categorically exhilarating. Pieces of Myself improves with every listen. The inventiveness of the compositions builds throughout, and when Allen finds her center she works it resolutely, even while keeping the program diverse.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Pieces of Myself; The Repercussions; Once Again; Pining; Good Friday; In Between the Lines; Marble Hill; The Very Thought of You.

Personnel

Jen Allen

piano

Jen Allen: piano; Dave Baron: bass; Lee Fish: drums; Kris Allen: alto saxophone; Josh Evans: trumpet; Andrew Renfroe: guitar.

Album information

Title: Pieces Of Myself | Year Released: 2011 | Record Label: Self Produced

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Waltz for Bill
< Previous

Brian Harker: Louis Armstrong's Hot ...
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.