The UMKC Conservatory's director of jazz, Carl Allen, William D. and Mary Grant/Missouri Endowed Professor of Jazz Studies, has performed, toured, and recorded with Christian McBride & Inside Straight for the past 15 years. The group was the top winner at the inaugural jazz Billboard awards, winning two of the eight competitive awards — best mainstream artist and best duo, group or big band.
The awards were held Oct. 22, 2022 at Atlanta's Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center.
With more than 225 recordings to his credit, the Milwaukee-born, New York-based drummer, sideman, bandleader, entrepreneur, and educator Carl Allen’s profound and propulsive percolations have provided soulful and syncopated support for more than three decades. In May 2012 Allen received an honorary doctorate in Humane Letters from Snow College in Ephraim, Utah. In May 2014, he completed a 6-year tenure serving as the Artistic Director of Jazz Studies at The Juilliard School in New York City.
Congratulations!