BRATTLEBORO — On Saturday, Oct. 17, at 8 p.m., the Vermont Jazz Center will present world-class drummer Carl Allen with his group The Art of Elvin. This band includes Tivon Pennicott, saxophones; Freddie Hendrix, trumpet; Xavier Davis, piano; Dezron Douglas, bass; and group leader Allen on drums.
“The group is a tribute to Art Blakey and Elvin Jones and features music performed by both Art Blakey and/or Elvin Jones as well as some original music,” Allen said in a press release. “In the tradition of both Art and Elvin the music is hard bop, gospel infused, hard swinging music that is designed to make one feel good. It's high energy as well as toe tapping.”
Allen was mentored by Jones and Blakey, considered two of the most significant jazz drummers in the history of the form.
Allen learned from their techniques and was able to reproduce their dramatically different feels while developing his own identity. Allen was chosen to fill Art Blakey's shoes when Jazz Messenger's alumni came together to form a tribute band after his death and released 1993's The Art of Blakey.