SASSY Award finalist Allan Harris on his evolution as a jazz vocalist – wbgo.org

The Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, presented by NJPAC in Newark, recently announced the five finalists for the competition on November 20. Allan Harris, Kristin Lash, Ekep Nkwelle, Luca Gutirrez Rebolloso and Lucy Yeghiazaryan will compete before a panel of judges, including Regina Carter, Christian McBride, T.S. Monk, Maria Schneider, and WBGOs own Pat Prescott. Held as the culminating event of the TD James Moody Jazz Festival, The SASSY Awards, as theyre informally known, will be hosted by WBGOs Gary Walker and the event will feature performances by the 2021 co-winners: Tawanda Suessbrich-Joaquim and Gabrielle Cavassa.

Gary Walker is interviewing each of the finalists in the weeks leading up to the competition. This week he spoke with his friend Allan Harris about growing up in Brooklyn and taking the D Train to Harlem to eat and take in the atmosphere at his aunt Kates Home Cooking soul food restaurant, located right behind the legendary Apollo Theatre. There Harris saw and, in some cases, met Ellington, Sarah, Count Basie, Ella and legions of other top jazz and R&B stars, influencing his own musical life to this day. Harris also talked with Walker about his development and evolution as a jazz singer, as well as about his Black Cowboy project.

Watch their conversation here:

Allan Harris interview by Gary Walker

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SASSY Award finalist Allan Harris on his evolution as a jazz vocalist - wbgo.org