Allan Harris (musician)

Allan Harris (born 4 April 1956 in Brooklyn, New York) is an award winning Jazz vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter from Harlem, New York. Described as having a “formidable baritone with… husky edges and deep resonant low notes”, and Harris has been called a protean talent. Harris is known for both his albums and his live performances. His album “Convergence”, a collaboration with pianist Takana Miryamoto was critically praised, and his album “Cross That River” (2006) was widely covered for its perspective on issues of ethnicity in the American western expansion.

He released an album in 2016 entitled Nobody's Gonna Love You Better.

Cross That River

Harris’ 2006 Album “Cross That River” was the subject of a 2006 story on the National Public Radio program All Things Considered, which explored Harris’ journey into the roles of African-Americans in the western expansion of the United States in the 19th century. Harris also has used “Cross That River” as a teaching tool in schools in New York, North Carolina and elsewhere. Cross That River is also a musical which had its debut at the New York Musical Theatre Festival in 2009. It received a residency grant from Chamber Music America and has been included in the Kennedy Center's Performing Arts Series (2008).

In 2014 Allan Harris also appeared in the music theatre show 'Cafe Society Swing' by Alex Webb (musician) in a three-week run at New York's 59E59 Theaters with a cast including vocalists Charenee Wade and Cyrille Aimée and an eight-piece band including bassist Mimi Jones, with Webb MD-ing from the piano chair. It attracted positive reviews including a 'Critic's Pick' from the New York Times.