Allen Paul

My music is designed to bridge the space between genres, emotions and cultures to find the true essence of what moves people. While my styles have been birthed out of my love for jazz, pop, R&B, gospel, blues, and classical music, I find that the sweet spot for people who listen is often labeled as “none of the above”, or more appropriately, “all of the above.” Therefore, I write, compose and improvise in order to deconstruct the label and reinforce the actual moment of creation and the spontaneous connection that moment creates.

The same effect that I find in music is the same effect I seek in my collaborations, as nothing is more authentically musical than the interplay of like-minded and like-hearted artists. While I enjoy solo opportunities, I rarely perform without introducing or incorporating the ensemble / duet element. Only when there are interactions on the stage do I really believe there are authentic interactions in the audience, and that’s why I’ve hung my hat on being the bridge between artist and audience – even when it means my artistic footprint is less noticeable.

In each of my performances and recordings, the overall impression is to leave the listener more thoughtful, more joyous, and more connected with themselves, their fellow listeners, and the world at large – and perhaps more importantly, that the performers in the room feel and experience the same.