Allan Harris CD Launch Concert Held at BB King Blues Club NY 9/25

Allan Harris, one of New York's greatest musical treasures, launches his new CD "Open Up Your Mind" in a special press event at BB King Blues Club in New York on Thursday, September 25, 2011 at 8pm. The CD marks Harris' seventh release under the Love Productions Records label.

"This music is something I've always wanted to record, going back to my roots as a guitar player. I put the guitar down for a while when I started focusing on singing jazz, but I've always missed playing. I grew up listening to guitarists like Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck but the music I was singing was going in a different direction. Then a few years ago I heard Dolly Parton singing a jazz standard, and it inspired me to break down my own musical barriers," says Harris.

The collection features some of Harris' most compelling original songs to date. It marks the beginning of a new era for the man known as the singer's singer and gives him a chance to show off his deep songwriting talent and enormous guitar skills.

The Allan Harris Band kicks off the show at 8pm EDT on Thursday, September 25, 2011 at BB King Blues Club on 42nd Street, New York, NY. Telephone: (212) 997-4144. Tickets are $12.00 in advance, $15.00 at the door. Doors open at 6pm. 

The NY Times' Stephen Holden recently referred to Allan as "a protean talent," This CD features nine original songs like "Hold You" which pays tribute to the great R&B songs of Luther Vandross and Teddy Pendergrass, "Can't Live My Life Without You" which is an upbeat jazzy tune in the vein of George Benson, "The Color of a Woman is Blue and "Inner Fear" which shows off his unique slide guitar styling. The title track "Open Up Your Mind" and "There She Goes" have a crossover edge that melds roots rhythms with contemporary jazz improvisation. "Autumn" is an original ballad about love changing like the seasons and Allan's upbeat and highly original rendition of the classic "Fly Me to the Moon" will surprise and delight all listeners. "Shores of Istanbul," and "I Do Believe," round out the highly anticipated release. Open Up Your Mind combines unique vocals with a contemporary jazz twist and accomplishes the ability to tell a story all at the same time.

Open Up Your Mind Track Titles:

"Can't Live My Life Without You" (Allan Harris)

"Hold You" (Allan Harris)

"Fly Me to the Moon" (Bart Howard)

"Color of a Woman" (Allan Harris)

"There She Goes (Allan Harris)

"Autumn" (Allan Harris)

"Shores of Istanbul" (Allan Harris)

"Inner Fear" (Allan Harris)"

"Open Up Your Mind" (Allan Harris)

"I Do Believe" (Allan Harris)

About Allan Harris

Award winning vocalist, Allan Harris has cultivated a global fan following stretching several continents including the United States, Europe, Russia and the Far East. Beginning September 4, 2011, the Allan Harris Band will take up residency every Sunday night at Smoke Jazz & Supper Club. He is a three-time winner of the New York Nightlife Award for "Outstanding Jazz Vocalist," as well as a 2011 Bistro Award winner, and regularly gets invited to play at the world's great music festivals. Allan's artistry transcends his diverse vocal performances.

He has composed "Cross That River," a full-scale musical celebrating the Old West as told through the words and music of a black cowboy, and has received a prestigious Chamber Music America Grant for that work. The theatrical production of "Cross That River" played to rave reviews during the 2009 New York Musical Theater Festival and will be featured for three weeks at Theatre Aspen in June 2012. He has also recently been selected as the national musical spokesman for Price Chopper Barbecue replacing Melvin Sparks on their television In addition to music; Allan is passionate about giving back. He is a long-time supporter of the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals (helping to raise funds for children's hospitals), and has performed numerous times alongside popular artists Vince Gill and Amy Grant for Challenge America, a charity that benefits military service people who have sustained disabilities. Harris is a Gibson Guitar supported artist and can be frequently seen rehearsing at the company's showroom, the former Hit Factory in New York City. For more information on Allan Harris go to www.allanharris.com To follow Allan on Facebook go to facebook.com/allanharrismusic or go to twitter.com/allanharris.