Vibraphonings

Coming Home - Top 10 on Jazzweek! Reviews, & Backer Update

1/25/2020

I'm absolutely thrilled to announce that Coming Home has made it into the TOP 10 ON JAZZWEEK! I'm grateful for all the support it has received - the listens, the radio spins, great reviews, and the hard work of John Bishop at Origin Records.
Backers of the album fundraiser received a link emailed to them for their digital download of Coming Home (so BACKERS, check your inbox/spam folder!)
Also, check out these fantastic reviews in Downbeat, Jazz Weekly, LA Jazz Scene, JazzHalo, and soon to be JAZZIZ!
Thanks again for your wonderful support!
~Lolly

CD Release Party & Jazz Brunch!

10/15/2019

I'm thrilled to announce the release of my new album Coming Home on Origin Records this November! Join us for the CD Release Concert & Jazz Brunch on Sunday, Nov 24th, at Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood. Advance tickets are recommended, more details below. The album will also be available on LOLLYVIBE.COM, iTunes, Amazon, and other major platforms. Backers of the album: watch for an email in the coming weeks.
Please share with friends & help spread the word. Thanks for your support... I hope to see you at the CD Release Party!

November 24, 2019
Sunday Jazz Brunch
Doors @11:30am

Catalina Jazz Club
6725 W. Sunset Blvd
Hollywood, CA 90028
www.catalinajazzclub.com
323-466-2210

One show 1pm $25. Student / teacher discounts available.
Brunch is a la carte, not included in ticket price.
Click here for Tickets & Info

Lolly Allen - vibraphone
Josh Nelson - piano
Danny Janklow - saxes
Edwin Livingston - bass
Paul Kreibich - drums

Coming this November... my new album, "Coming Home"!

9/12/2019

My new album "Coming Home" is finally set for release... this NOVEMBER 2019 on Origin Records!!
It will be available through distributors and on major platforms including iTunes. I couldn't be more excited!
So much work went into making this album its very best possible. I'm proud of it, and can't wait to get it out there.
Thank you so much to all who helped make this album possible. Backers will receive an email from me confirming your mailing address (&/or email address), so keep your eyes peeled over the next few weeks.

Questions, comments? Shoot me an email. Thanks again, and "may the jazz be with you"!

The Single Release Party was a HIT!

11/14/2017

Sunday was a magical afternoon at the A-Frame in the Hollywood Hills with Josh Nelson on piano, Danny Janklow (fresh off of his world tour!) on saxophones & flute, Jordan Richards on bass, Paul Kreibich on drums, and myself on ye olde vibraphone.

Danny brought the house down on his "Girl Talk" solo, and I thought to myself, "THIS must be what they mean by the term, 'YOUNG LION'...!" At the end of his solo, as the band continued to play, the crowd burst into applause, followed shortly by laughter, as Josh -- while playing -- shrugged and said, "How can I possibly follow that?!". He proceeded to play a strikingly beautiful and soulful piano solo - the first chorus of which was mostly accompanied by giggles and chatter, as we all metaphorically picked ourselves up off the floor.

In one of my favorite moments, our host, Betty Hoover, gave her introduction of the band. It is an A-Frame tradition for Betty to announce the musicians while they gently play "Take the A-Train" behind her, which is what we did. Being a jazz musician, I love unexpected musical situations where anything can happen. And anything did! Including Paul receiving the loving & honorable qualification of 'Old Guy'. Which we know actually translates to "Jazz Master"....tee hee. ;-)

I couldn't have asked for a better experience of performing my original composition "Coming Home" with such world class musicians, in such a beautiful environment, to such an enthusiastic and supportive audience. The new single (for which the entire party was centered around) is free for Indiegogo backers (by special email), and available for purchase on CDBaby! (And in the very near future, iTunes!)

And of course, no account of the day's events would be complete without mention of the "Little Hummingbird"... both musically speaking, and literally! It was a joy to play with Jordan's groovin' bass lines, Paul's effortless Latin-to-swing feels, and the harmonic layering of the melody with Josh & Danny. "Little Hummingbird" will be included on the full release of the new album, which you may pre-order on Indiegogo by making a donation -- thus, also helping complete the final stages of album production!

As for the actual hummingbird, we are pretty sure he heard us playing his diddy and was inspired to take flight. (See below!) :)

Thank you to Betty Hoover, Dena Hulbert ... Bern, Steve and all who helped out... and all who attended. Also thank you to all the backers & Indiegogo supporters, without whom, there would be no single to release!

Big City, Big Vibes

9/28/2017

I have a profound respect for recording / mixing engineers, and find what they do completely amazing! I spent time with Paul Tavenner at Big City Recording this week as we (really he) buffed, polished & refined the beautiful tracks recorded in Talley Sherwood's studio. The question of the day, "How wide do you want your vibes?" now has an answer (which I didn't realize before):
Seven.
The answer is seven!

You are welcome to ask me what this means the next time you see me. :-)
Until then... cheers!

Album Progress: Song Line-Up!

9/15/2017

Here is the current song line up for the new album... with a few left as surprises... ;)

1) Hippest Cat in Hollywood
2) Coming Home (original)
3) Emily
4) Mambo Inn
5) Lolly's Folly
6) Gentle Rain
7) Be-bop
8) O Grande Amor
9) ??????
10) ?????
....???

A Work in Progress

2/25/2017

The new album is still a work in progress, but getting closer to the finish line. Originally, my ambitious hope was to have it ready for release months ago... but apparently excellence takes time! ;-D
I am very happy to announce that we have recorded a fantastic version of my original song "Come Home", with my quintet featuring Danny Janklow on sax, Josh Nelson on piano, Paul Kreibich on drums and Jordan Richards on bass.
A few songs on the album feature a larger ensemble adding Larry Koonse on guitar, Carl Saunders on trumpet, Scott Whitfield on trombone, Adam Schroder on bari, and Kendall Kaye on drums. Carl's original song "Lolly's Folly" features the full nine piece instrumentation arranged by pianist Tom Owens, who also plays on the album.
I'm very excited about our rendition of "Hippest Cat in Hollywood", co-arranged with Josh Nelson, which is taking the lead position as the first song in the lineup.
Other songs to be included are: "Mambo Inn", "Emily", "Gentle Rain", and a few more surprises!
I'm hoping for a release date within a few months. Stay tuned!

Making the recording...

4/1/2016

We had an incredible day at Tritone Recording studio on 3/2/2016, tracking a total of 8 songs! Everyone was amazing to work with: Tom Owens, Jordan Richards, Danny Janklow, Paul Kreibich, Tally Sherwood, Josh Nelson & Julia Fairlight. I can't wait to go back and finish the rest in a couple of weeks!

WE MET OUR $12K GOAL!!!

1/2/2016

$12,378 in 28 DAYS!!

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to the 178 backers who helped raise $12,378 in 28 days. I'm really blown away by the generous support for this CD project!

There are still a limited number of tickets available for the CD Pre-release Concert through the same link: http://igg.me/at/LollyAllen
You can also pre-order the album for those who haven't yet.

Now we move forward with making the recording. I'm so very grateful to our fans, words cannot fully express!
~Happiest of New Years to you!~

Great fun playing at SOhO in Santa Barbara

11/10/2015

What a great time we had on Sunday, playing for the Santa Barbara Jazz Society at SOhO! Danny Janklow, Teresa Sanchez, Paul Kreibich and Tom Owens were all on the gig. This was a first time for me at that venue, and what a cool place. Natalie Wilson wrote a lovely review of the show and posted it on their site, along with some great photos by Mark McDonald. Very cool!

I'm grinning as Danny Janklow tears it up on the tenor.