All That Jazz: John Allred

ohn Allred
All That Jazz
with the Naples Philharmonic Jazz Orchestra

John Allred, trombone
Luciano Morello, founding producer
Lew Del Gatto, artistic director, tenor saxophone
James Suggs, trumpet
Mike Harvey, drums
Kevin Mauldin, bass
Jerry Stawski, co-bandleader, vocals, piano

To say jazz runs in the veins of trombonist John Allred would be an understatement. His grandfather played piano and banjo on Mississippi river boats. His father, Bill Allred, a highly acclaimed trombonist, played in Rosie O’Grady’s Good Time Emporium and the Continental Jazz Band. Now, the third-generation musician continues their legacy.

After learning about his New Orleans roots and watching his father perform in front of adoring crowds, John Allred quickly developed a deep appreciation for traditional jazz at a young age. His appreciation, knowledge and abilities continued to flourish leading him to explore bebop and many other musical styles.

Known for his performances of Sonny Rollins, Charlie Haden, Hoagy Carmichael and Fats Waller tunes, among many others, Allred is a familiar face in jazz clubs, clinics and festival appearances all over the world. He has performed and recorded with jazz greats like Wynton Marsalis, Stan Getz, Tony Bennett and more. In the late 1980s, Allred was lead trombonist and featured soloist with the legendary Woody Herman’s Young Thundering Herd and, later, Harry Connick Jr’s band. As a band leader, he has five albums under his name, the most recent being 2014’s Live and Unplugged.