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The Harry Allen Orchestra: With Roses

By Pierre Giroux
July 5, 2023
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Harry Allen

saxophone
b.1966

" data-original-title="" title="">Harry Allen is a tenor saxophonist's tenor saxophonist with an elegant tone and swinging style in the manner of

Scott Hamilton

saxophone, tenor
b.1954

" data-original-title="" title="">Scott Hamilton,

Lester Young

saxophone
1909 - 1959

" data-original-title="" title="">Lester Young or

" data-original-title="" title="">Ben Webster. He has a well-rounded discography of over 70 releases as a leader and many others as a sideman. Over the course of his prolific career, Allen has appeared with the likes of

Rosemary Clooney

vocals
1928 - 2002

" data-original-title="" title="">Rosemary Clooney,

Tony Bennett

vocals
1926 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Tony Bennett,

James Taylor

guitar and vocals
b.1948

" data-original-title="" title="">James Taylor and guitarists

Bucky Pizzarelli

guitar
1926 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">Bucky Pizzarelli and

John Pizzarelli

guitar
b.1960

" data-original-title="" title="">John Pizzarelli. In this release, With Roses, Allen applies his considerable talents to a recording of ten original songs composed by Roger Frankham with co-writers

Bruce Brown

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Bruce Brown, Roger Schore and

Mark Winkler

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Mark Winkler.

In fleshing out the way he wanted to approach the music, Allen thought it would be appropriate to utilize two horn sections, one focusing on jazz horns consisting of two trumpets, two tenor saxophones and one trombone; while the other would be a classical horn section featuring two flutes, two clarinets and a bass clarinet. Additionally, most tracks feature New York-based vocalist

Lucy Yeghiazaryan

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Lucy Yeghiazaryan whose full-bodied voice seems tailor-made for these songs.

The opener "It All Catches Up with You in the End" is a solid swinger from the first beat, and the chart takes full advantage of the jazz horn section. The snappy lyrics by Bruce Brown are delivered in an expressive fashion by Yeghiazaryan's distinctive voice. The follow-on track "Be The One" has a lilting 5/4 time signature which fits hand-in-glove with the structure of the classical horn section, and offers some solo space to bass clarinetist

Dan Block

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Dan Block. Allen chips in with a tenor saxophone interjection, which is no less calming despite its brevity.

What a difference the adverb "Here" or "When" makes. For example the Roger Frankham composition "Here in Rome" compared to the

Cy Coleman

piano
1929 - 2004

" data-original-title="" title="">Cy Coleman & Carolyn Leigh song "When in Rome"; the former is a ballad about lost love with the opening couplet, "Here in Rome / I am just another tourist lost at sea." And, although the arrangement is carefully crafted and well executed, it is hard to escape the feeling of melancholy which Yeghiazaryan's vocal imbues to the lyrics. "When in Rome" is a cheerful little ditty performed at a breezy tempo with the closing couplet, "When in Rome / I do as the Romans do."

Written as a waltz, the title track "With Roses" has lyrics by the well-known singer-songwriter Mark Winkler. Yeghiazaryan gives the lyrics a tender reading with Allen's incisive tenor saxophone interjected for a few bars. The closer is "On My Way" with lyrics by Frankham and music by Winkler & Frankham. This is an infectious number with a toe-tapping tempo. Yeghiazaryan's reading of the lyrics is in keeping with the composers' intent and, like a cup of coffee, "good to the last drop."

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Track Listing

It All Catches Up with You in the End; Be the One; The Maestro; Here in Rome; That Far Away Fella; Diamonds; That's When the Fun Starts; With Roses; Takes a Moment; On My Way.

Personnel

Harry Allen

saxophone

John di Martino

piano

Mike Karn

bass

Lucy Yeghiazaryan

vocals

Warren Vache

cornet

Freddie Hendrix

trumpet

John Allred

trombone

Grant Stewart

saxophone, tenor

Aaron Kimmel

drums

Additional Instrumentation

Peter Anderson: clarinet; Will Anderson: clarinet; Dan Block: bass clarinet; Steve Kenyon: flute; Kathleen Nester: flute; Bryan Carter: drums.

Album information

Title: With Roses | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: Triangle7

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