Acclaimed Jazz Artist G. Thomas Allen Visits Carthage College

News

Bio

Since his arrival on the Chicago scene in 2015, G. Thomas Allen has continued to use his stratospheric range to break barriers in uncharted waters.  His soul-infused phrases, rooted in sacred harmony, and approach to line shaping have made him the first male, in history, to win the Sarah Vaughan International Vocal Jazz Competition - Downbeat Magazine.  

Thomas’ work spans multi-genres, as a former Principal Artist of the Los Angeles Opera, and lead vocalist on GRAMMY-nominated projects both with Ricky Dillard and New G (Motown Gospel).   He has worked with the late David Baker, jazz educator and conductor of the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra at Strathmore Hall, guest soloist with the Black Pearl Chamber Ensemble, Royal Melbourne Philharmonic, and former member of Baltimore's Soulful Symphony.   On the Chicago scene, noted collaborations and recordings with Marquis Hill, Pharez Whitted, and Greg Ward. 

He has appeared on National Public Radio (NPR), and Cable Network News (CNN), and performed at some of the top concert halls in America, including The Kennedy Center, NJPAC, and Carnegie Hall.  Thomas has performed in top jazz rooms including SOUTH Jazz Club in Philly, The Jazz Showcase in Chicago, Minton’s Playhouse in Harlem (birthplace of bebop),  and Keystone Korner  in Baltimore – to name a few.   Noted performance venues and festivals: City Winery - Chicago, Turpin Lamp Theatre, 50th New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the TD Jazz Moody Jazz Festival, and the White Plains NY Jazz Festival.

In 2020, Thomas’ self-titled debut album hit No. #1 on the iTunes jazz charts.  Currently, the band is working on a sophomore project, Reimagined Dream.  A lead single, "Cookie Jar", was released in 2022 and already making waves with its iconic tagline, “You’ve been tempted by the cookie jar”!   Often compared to the likes of the iconic Philip Bailey and inspired by Al Jarreau, Thomas is one the leading countertenor voices of the 21st century. 

2x-graduate of Morgan State University, as a Vocal Studies alum and second-BA in Speech.  Master of Music in Musical Theatre Vocal Pedagogy, Carthage College - Diversity Fellow May 2023.  CEO/Founder of Allen Studios, LLC.

Thomas serves on the voice faculty of Columbia College of Chicago and Carthage College as a Contemporary Voice Specialist. 

 

 

Calendar

Previous events

Date Event Location
G. Thomas Allen Quintet The Green Mill | Chicago, IL The Green Mill | Chicago, IL
G. Thomas Allen Quintet City Winery | Chicago, IL City Winery | Chicago, IL
(EST, UTC-05) (EST, UTC-05) G. Thomas Allen Quintet APAP's annual New York Conference APAP's annual New York Conference
(EST, UTC-05) (EST, UTC-05) G. Thomas Allen Quartet Jazz on Main | Mt. Kisco, NY Jazz on Main | Mt. Kisco, NY
(EST, UTC-05) (EST, UTC-05) G. Thomas Allen Quintet Keystone Korner | Baltimore, MD Keystone Korner | Baltimore, MD
 —  — Joyful Noise: A Gospel Christmas Holland Performing Arts Center |Omaha, Nebraska Holland Performing Arts Center |Omaha, Nebraska
G. Thomas Allen Quartet Rudy's Jazz Room | Nashville, TN Rudy's Jazz Room | Nashville, TN
(EDT, UTC-04) (EDT, UTC-04) G. Thomas Allen Quintet Turpin-Lamb Theater, Baltimore, MD Turpin-Lamb Theater, Baltimore, MD
 —  — G. Thomas Allen Quartet White Plains NY Jazz Festival White Plains NY Jazz Festival
(CDT, UTC-05) (CDT, UTC-05) G. Thomas Allen Quartet The Jazz Showcase | Chicago, IL The Jazz Showcase | Chicago, IL
(EDT, UTC-04) (EDT, UTC-04) 2022-23 Concert Series Bob Jones University | Greenville, SC Bob Jones University | Greenville, SC
(EDT, UTC-04) (EDT, UTC-04) "From Solace To..." Washington, DC Washington, DC
G. Thomas Allen Quartet Caffe Vivace | Cinnciannti, OH Caffe Vivace | Cinnciannti, OH
(CDT, UTC-05) (CDT, UTC-05) G. Thomas Allen Quartet The Jazz Showcase | Chicago, IL The Jazz Showcase | Chicago, IL
G. Thomas Allen Quartet Minton's Playhouse | Harlem, NY Minton's Playhouse | Harlem, NY
34th Anniversary Concert: Ricky Dillard & New G Atlanta, GA Atlanta, GA
(CDT, UTC-05) (CDT, UTC-05) GMWA, Birmingham Division (Guest Soloist) Birmingham, AL Birmingham, AL
 —  — G. Thomas Allen Quartet Chicago, IL | Columbus Park Refectory Chicago, IL | Columbus Park Refectory
(EDT, UTC-04) (EDT, UTC-04) Washington Performing Arts Washington, DC Washington, DC
(BST, UTC+01) (BST, UTC+01) Black Love London, ON | Aeolian Hall - Performing Arts Centre London, ON | Aeolian Hall - Performing Arts Centre

Reviews

G. Thomas Allen’s falsetto vocals make him unusual for a male singer — and they helped him become the first man ever to win the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition on Nov. 14.” - Michael Barris

Downbeat Magazine

Thomas Allen from Chicago was announced as the winner of the 10th Annual Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition on Sunday, Nov. 14 at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) in Newark, N.J.”

JAZZTIMES

One of the judges, guitarist/vocalist John Pizzarelli, described the competition as "a great mix of vocalists, and that made it hard to come up with a winner. I think G. really commanded it, and his confidence was as clear as his voice.” - This article first appeared in Jersey Jazz Magazine

All About Jazz

Contact

  Management 

  Michelle Taylor,

    Passion Music Group 

     passionmusicgroup.net

                                 Direct: 1+201-837-0596                              

 Email: michelletaylor@passionmusicgroup.net

Support

All donations will go towards upcoming projects, advancing tours and general expenses.  Please email us at: gtallenjr@gmail.com - should you need to request a W-9 for tax purposes.

Thank you ~