Lee Allen

[Pete Thomas]

As some of you know I'm a big fan of the late Lee Allen, I had the pleasure of knowing him as friend as well as playing alongside him on gigs ands essions.

I found a 1982 videoclip on Youtube. Lee is playing with LA rock & roll band the blasters. He was always happy to help young musicians and this is one of those bands. Good boogie piano solo, a baritone solo from Steve Berlin (who went on to play with Los Lobos), then Lee takes a solo.

It's in the extra pages, check it out.

 

[Jules]

Lovely solo from Lee Allen- I think I'd use the word lyrical (melodic and understated). I'd forgotten what a great band the Blasters were- in fact all that stuff on Slash records used to be pretty tasty (mis-spent youth listening to punk-ish country rock music)...

 

[Bobby G]

That whole tune gets a big thumbs-up from me; not only Lee's playing as described by nachoman (spot on, there), but the marvellous baritone (I WANT ONE!!!!) and I could listen to that piano player for ages. There's a whole slew of musical styles that cross into each other - the rock'n'roll, r'n'b, jump jive, the blues etc etc, it's all just uplifting and groovy!

Cheers for the clip Pete!

I don't know how technically difficult what Lee is doing on this tune really is, but his playing has the knack of making me think I could play most of what he does here - maybe not string it together as well as Lee, but broken down into its constituent licks, yeah, I reckon I could. Maybe not all of it, but you know..... Perhaps that's his way of coming across, it kind of inspires you to have a go in a way that someone like Cannonball or Trane don't (I love them but know I'd never get near them). Also the fact that you have a sense of where each line is leading, so without it being predicatable in the boring sense, it's kind of nice when it goes approximately where you think it's going to; a kind of masterclass in constructing a solo. Of course, as it's rock and roll one shouldn't get too dry and academic about it, so let's just say 'the man sure can blow'.



Cheers, Bob