Allison Neale – a true favourite at Googlies and someone who’s graced our stage to much applause.
Allison plays alto and flute with a West Coast cool sensibility that draws from the greats – Paul Desmond, Art Pepper, and Stan Getz among them. She grew up in Seattle absorbing her father’s jazz collection before the family returned to the UK, where she cut her teeth with the Midland Youth Jazz Orchestra and the National Youth Jazz Orchestra.
Her approach is understated but deeply musical. She favours the classic songbook and works beautifully in a quartet setting, particularly with guitar in the rhythm section. Over the years Allison has recorded several lovely albums exploring standards and bop repertoire, and she’s been a regular at Ronnie Scott’s, the 606 Club, and Pizza Express, often sitting in with visiting American players.
Expect lyrical, carefully crafted playing – the real deal.