Gwyn Jay Allen

Freetown - The Return Creole Jazz Journey

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Last Show: Saturday 21 st May 2022

PizzaExpress Live (Birmingham)

Following his recent highly acclaimed BBC TV performance with comedian Romesh Ranganathan in ‘The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan’ Sierra Leone singer and composer Gwyn Jay Allen and his all-star band performs at Pizza Express, Birmingham with his new show. A born entertainer, the highly versatile Freetown-based vocalist is loved by British audiences. His appearance on Sir Michael Parkinson’s London Palladium Show with the BBC Concert Orchestra was cheered, and with his own ensemble he has played to full houses at Ronnie Scott’s, the Royal Albert Hall, the Jazz Café and the Louis Armstrong Museum House. Tours have taken Gwyn to New York, Paris, Melbourne, Marbella, Rabat, Malé, Abidjan, Calabar and Port of Spain. The show features his delightful Creole Jazz tribute to Louis Armstrong and an engaging personal journey from his new EP, “Freetown—The Return.

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'I Love Louis' is an album you can’t help but fall in love with"

JazzWise

No one can dispute that Gwyn Jay Allen isn’t a natural born entertainer. Born in the UK to Sierra Leonean parents, he served his musical apprenticeship singing and playing guitar on London trains and in 1992 he landed a residency at the Park Lane Hilton and later at the world famous The Dorchester Hotel.

His vocals and percussion playing talent has graced performances and recordings with music giants such as soul diva Diana Ross, reggae heavy weight Maxi Priest, Herbie Hancock and dance icon Jamiroquai and Basement Jaxx. He independently released his first solo album ‘Land of Milk and Money’ in 2001 whilst touring and supporting American gospel giant Kirk Franklin at London’s renowned Royal Albert Hall.

Gwyn went on to star as Cab Calloway in the smash hit West End Musical ‘The Blues Brothers’ and his lifelong work and love for Louis ‘Satchmo’ Armstrong propelled him to TV stardom when he became a finalist on the UK’s popular TV show ‘Stars in Their Eyes’.

He released his second album ‘I Love Louis’ - a Creole Tribute to Louis Armstrong which has toured all corners of the world and features European Jazz Artist of the Year pianist Alex Wilson and the late Grammy Award winner trumpeter, Roy Hargrove. A stella performance at Louis Armstrong’s New York House Museum together with performing Louis classics live on the Sir Michael Parkinson’s show at The London Palladium with the infamous 60-piece BBC Orchestra and Big Band just sealed it! Gwyn continues to tour the world with his ‘I Love Louis’ stage adaptation of the extravagant life of Louis Armstrong.

Gwyn Jay Allen has released his third solo album ‘Freetown – The Return’ which is a blend of spiced up contemporary treat of songs with a mixture of Soul, Blues, Jazz and West African Folk flavours.

Band Line Up

Gwyn Jay Allen (vocals)

Neville Malcolm (bass)

Rod Youngs (drums)

Chris Jerome (piano)

Dominic Grant (guitar)