Introduction
Allen Nicholas Farnham (born May 19, 1961) is a record producer, educator, jazz pianist, composer, and arranger. He has recorded several albums under his own name – as a soloist, in a small group, and with a big band.
Early life
Farnham was born in Boston on May 19, 1961. He "first played piano when he was 12 and in 1983 he graduated from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio".
Later life and career
Farnham moved to New York City in the following year. He played as a freelance, then signed to Concord Records in 1986. "Between 1986 and 1990 he led his own quartet, with either Joe Lovano or Dick Oatts on saxophone and Drew Gress and Jamey Haddad filling out the rhythm section, and from 1990 he was pianist and music director for Susannah McCorkle."
Farnham has produced more than 50 albums for Concord. He is a faculty member at New Jersey City University.
Discography
As leader/co-leader
| Year recorded | Title | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 5th House | Concord Jazz | With Tom Harrell (trumpet, flugelhorn), Joe Lovano (soprano sax, tenor sax), Drew Gress (bass; separately), Jamey Haddad (drums) |
| 1992 | Play-cation | Concord Jazz | With Dick Oatts (soprano sax, alto sax, tenor sax), Rufus Reid and Drew Gress (bass), Jamey Haddad (drums) |
| 1986–94 | The Common Thread | Concord Jazz | Some tracks solo piano; some tracks trio, with Drew Gress (bass), Jamey Haddad (drums); some tracks quartet, with Joe Lovano added |
| 1994 | Allen Farnham at Maybeck | Concord Jazz | Solo piano; in concert |
| 1996 | Meets the RIAS Big Band | Concord Jazz | With the RIAS Big Band |
As sideman
| Year recorded | Leader | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Mel Tormé | Reunion | Concord |
| 1988 | Mel Tormé | In Concert Tokyo | Concord |
| Gust William Tsilis | Pale Fire | Enja | |
| 1991 | Susannah McCorkle | I'll Take Romance | Concord Jazz |
| 1993 | Susannah McCorkle | From Bessie to Brazil | Concord Jazz |
| 1998 | Susannah McCorkle | From Broken Hearts to Blue Skies | Concord Jazz |
| 1998? | Masahiro Yoshida | Uno | DIW |
| 2000 | Roseanna Vitro | Conviction: Thoughts of Bill Evans | A |
| 2000 | Susannah McCorkle | Hearts and Minds | Concord Jazz |
| 2008? | Mark Sherman | Live at the Bird's Eye | Miles High |
| 2010? | John Fedchock | Live at the Red Sea Jazz Festival | Capri |
| 2015? | John Fedchock | Like It Is | Mama |
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