He has worked with, to name a handful:
Gwyneth Herbert
Dave O’Higgins
Jacqui Dankworth
Dame Cleo Laine
Sir John Dankworth
Tim Garland
John Helliwell (Supertramp)
Carleen Anderson
Paul Roberts (The Stranglers)
Jamie Cullum
Mike Walker
Dylan Howe
Guy Pratt (Pink Floyd)
Steve Furst
Kate Dimbleby
Charlie Wood
Madeline Bell
Gwilym Simcock
The BBC Big Band
Ken Peplowski
The London Jazz Orchestra
The Chris Allard Band was formed in 2002. They are well-known on the London scene, and have performed at numerous festivals and respected venues in the UK and in Europe, including the International Guitar Festival, Ronnie Scott’s, Bonington Theatre, St James Theatre, London, Maison Musique Torino Italy, the Pizza Express Jazz Club, Soho London; and have had press and radio-play as far afield as Portugal and Los Angeles.
“Chris Allard is a regular on TV, radio and the international jazz festival circuit. Open Spaces demonstrates the group’s dexterity while maintaining a balance between tension and release as spiralling highs give way to relaxed improvisations. Top drawer.”
The Musician
Now signed to Sunlightsquare Records in London/Milan, third album Jupiter Island was released July 2013. Previous album Open Spaces received critical acclaim, including excellent reviews in Jazzwise, Musician, and four stars in Guitarist Magazine.
“Full-blooded solos…right on the money” Jazzwise
As a studio musician Chris has recorded in most of the best studios in the UK including Maida Vale, Abbey Road, Metropolis, Pinewood Studios, Air, and abroad at studios including Dinamec studio, Geneva, and Solar Studio, Los Angeles. Chris has recorded for legendary producers such as Tony Platt (Led Zeppelin, ACDC, Bob Marley).
Chris also works as a composer. Amongst other writing projects he recently wrote the music for Berlin Film Festival sponsored short film Spoilt Broth, which has been screened in Washington DC, Sydney, Moscow, London, Venice and New York City, where it won best comedy award at the GIAA Film Festival. It also won the USA Short Film Channel Best Film award 2012, and appeared at the International Film Festival of Cinematic Arts in LA and various other international film festivals.
“One of the great guitarists in this country” Jamie Cullum, Live on Radio 2
United Kingdom
