Jack Allen is a guitarist based in Los Angeles, CA.  A native Angeleno, Jack’s father was part of the dance team, Peck and Peck, that opened for the likes of artists that included Duke Ellington, Billy Eckstine and  Louis Jordan among others.

Jack’s musical instruction included private guitar studies with guitarists Barney Kessell and John Collins.  Jack studied composition and orchestration with Rule Beasley at Santa Monica City College and privately with Bill Byers, Benny Carter and Dr. Albert Harris.  Academy Award winner film composer Eddy Manson instructed Jack at UCLA.

While Jack’s focus has been in Jazz, he’s equally at ease with performing with artists from David Sanborn to Eddy Grant.

In addition, Jack has appeared in many commercials from Diet Pepsi with Ray Charles, (“You Got the Right One Baby”) to Nike.  With his own group, he appeared in a successful Gap commercial campaign.  Along with commercials, Jack appeared in the Academy Award nominated film, What’s Love Got To Do With It?  T.V. saw Jack playing guitar in an episode of Eve, along with American Idol winner Ruben Studdard.

In 2015, after decades of providing musical support for artists of all genres, Jack released Nawlins Boy his first CD; a tribute to his deceased father, a New Orleans native.  The CD reached #69 on the JazzWeek Charts.  The CD features childhood friend Azar Lawrence, Munyungo Jackson, Land Richards, Onaje Murray and Ernest Tibbs, along with some of the finest musicians in L.A.

Jack explores standards like “Jitterbug Waltz” and “Scrapple From The Apple”.  His original compositions on the CD explore his love and embrace of modern forward looking arrangements.

Watch for Jack at the world famous  ‘Catalina’s Jazz Night Club’ later this year.