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Allen Farnham

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Allen Farnham
Birth nameAllen Nicholas Farnham
Born (1961-05-19) May 19, 1961 (age 63)
Boston, Massachusetts, US
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Musician, composer, arranger, educator, record producer
InstrumentPiano
Years active1984–present
LabelsConcord Jazz
Websiteallenfarnham.com

Allen Nicholas Farnham (born May 19, 1961) is a record producer, educator, jazz pianist, composer, and arranger. He has recorded several albums under his own name – as a soloist, in a small group, and with a big band.

Early life

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Farnham was born in Boston on May 19, 1961.[1] He "first played piano when he was 12 and in 1983 he graduated from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio".[2]

Later life and career

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Farnham moved to New York City in the following year.[2] He played as a freelance, then signed to Concord Records in 1986.[2] "Between 1986 and 1990 he led his own quartet, with either Joe Lovano or Dick Oatts on saxophone and Drew Gress and Jamey Haddad filling out the rhythm section, and from 1990 he was pianist and music director for Susannah McCorkle."[1]

Farnham has produced more than 50 albums for Concord.[2] He is a faculty member at New Jersey City University.[3]

Discography

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As leader/co-leader

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Year recorded Title Label Notes
1989 5th House Concord Jazz With Tom Harrell (trumpet, flugelhorn), Joe Lovano (soprano sax, tenor sax), Drew Gress (bass; separately), Jamey Haddad (drums)
1992 Play-cation Concord Jazz With Dick Oatts (soprano sax, alto sax, tenor sax), Rufus Reid and Drew Gress (bass), Jamey Haddad (drums)
1986–94 The Common Thread Concord Jazz Some tracks solo piano; some tracks trio, with Drew Gress (bass), Jamey Haddad (drums); some tracks quartet, with Joe Lovano added
1994 Allen Farnham at Maybeck Concord Jazz Solo piano; in concert
1996 Meets the RIAS Big Band Concord Jazz With the RIAS Big Band

As sideman

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Year recorded Leader Title Label
1988 Mel Tormé Reunion Concord
1988 Mel Tormé In Concert Tokyo Concord
Gust William Tsilis Pale Fire Enja
1991 Susannah McCorkle I'll Take Romance Concord Jazz
1993 Susannah McCorkle From Bessie to Brazil Concord Jazz
1998 Susannah McCorkle From Broken Hearts to Blue Skies Concord Jazz
1998? Masahiro Yoshida Uno DIW
2000 Roseanna Vitro Conviction: Thoughts of Bill Evans A
2000 Susannah McCorkle Hearts and Minds Concord Jazz
2008? Mark Sherman Live at the Bird's Eye Miles High[4]
2010? John Fedchock Live at the Red Sea Jazz Festival Capri[5]
2015? John Fedchock Like It Is Mama[6]

Main source:[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b Kennedy, Gary W. (2003), Farnham, Allen (Nicholas), Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.J564200
  2. ^ a b c d Yanow, Scott. "Allen Farnham". AllMusic. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  3. ^ "Faculty Profiles". njcu.edu. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  4. ^ Ephland, John (November 2008). "Mark Sherman Quartet: Live at the Bird's Eye". DownBeat. p. 81.
  5. ^ Myers, Mitch (December 2010). "John Fedchock NY Sextet: Live at the Red Sea Jazz Festival". DownBeat. p. 80.
  6. ^ Zimmerman, Brian (November 2015). "John Fedchock New York Big Band: Like It Is". DownBeat. p. 53.
  7. ^ Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (1996). The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD (3rd ed.). Penguin. ISBN 978-0-14-051368-4.