"Great playing…beautiful…a real guitar player"

Pat Martino

Chris Allard is a freelance guitarist based in England. He has performed at major venues including the Royal Albert Hall, the Pyramids and Great Sphinx (Cairo), the Barbican, Montreux Jazz Festival, Ronnie Scott’s, Nuremberg Festival, Hackney Empire, O2 Arena London, Midem Festival Cannes, Friends of Jordan Festival, The Queen Elizabeth Hall, Beiteddine Arts Festival (Lebanon), Edinburgh Festival, Bahrain Spring of Culture Festival, Duoro Jazz Festival (Portugal), The Royal Festival Hall. He has also played live on TV and radio, and appeared on numerous albums.

Chris has performed/recorded with Jacqui Dankworth, Sheridan Smith, Charlie Wood, Gwyneth Herbert, Dave O’Higgins, Dame Cleo Laine, Sir John Dankworth, Omar Kamal, Jamie Cullum, Mike Walker, Lea Salonga, Steve Furst, Gwilym Simcock, the BBC Big Band, Steve Waterman to name a few.

Recent releases include 2022 piano/guitar duo album Tortugas, with leading pianist Ross Stanley:

‘borders on genius’ Jazz Journal

‘an absolute gem’ Bebop Spoken Here

‘There’s some terrific playing throughout “Tortugas” as Allard and Stanley remind us of just why they are regarded as being two of the best musicians in the business.’ the Jazz Mann

★★★★ Jazzwise Magazine

Another recent album is Secret Sessions: Hoop, from 2021 on Ubuntu Records: brainchild of the incredible Paul Booth and featuring fantastic musicians Tom Walsh, Nichol Thomson, Laurence Cottle, Ian Thomas, and guest appearances from Steve Hamilton, Miles Bould and Ross Stanley.

“…Allard with a masterclass in controlled dynamics as he cuts loose with some articulate but soulful blues rock guitar. The guitarist’s own “Erin” is another piece to showcase the more meditative side of the band. There’s a plaintive edge to Booth’s tenor while the composer demonstrates his versatility with a guitar solo that draws more obviously on his impressive jazz chops. Walsh then takes over with a fluent and graceful flugelhorn solo.” ★★★★ the Jazz Mann.

At least 2 new albums featuring new original music will be coming in 2023. Plus collaborative projects.

Previously, the Chris Allard Band has performed at festivals and respected venues in the UK and Europe including the International Guitar Festival, Ronnie Scott’s, Bonington Theatre, Maison Musique Torino Italy, the Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho, London, has had press and radio-play as far afield as Portugal and Los Angeles and received critical acclaim including ★★★★ Guitarist Magazine.

Press quotes for 2016 album Invisible Landscape:

‘a non-cliched linear improviser of great originality and talent…an excellent recording of modern music full of variety, intensity and interest.’ Jazzviews

‘In an age of instant downloads and short attention spans, ‘Invisible Landscape’ is a brave album built on artistic integrity, framed by Allard’s inventive musical vision and realized by the band’s technical and improvisational excellence’ ★★★★ Get Ready to Rock

"One of the great guitarists in this country"

Jamie Cullum

News

Anthony Kerr/Chris Allard duo

A video of our new duo now on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/noFAakd7ZyE?si=4cUMI2vn_3j3K7No A pleasure as ever to play with the amazing Vibraphonist Anthony Kerr - and a challenge to play in this uncommon Guitar/Vibraphone duo format. We will hopefully be playing...

Lea Salonga: ‘Stage, Screen & Everything in Between’ tour June 2024

delighted to be touring the UK with the amazing Lea Salonga once again in June 2024 https://www.livenation.co.uk/show/1462126/lea-salonga-stage-screen-and-everything-in-between/gateshead/2024-06-29/en

Melodic Collective

New album out now! Guitar-Led Quintet Of Master Musicians To Release Enthralling New Work. Perdido Music is proud to present the brand new album by Melodic Collective - a new collaborative contemporary jazz group formed by guitarist Chris Allard, encompassing the...