Composer, guitarist/vocalist Justin Allison is a song stylist, an interpreter of the music he loves, music that stirs his soul. Be it a Brazilian samba or bossa nova, rock, blues or reggae, from the past masters, Duke, Miles, Monk and Porter to contemporary writers Sting, Stevie and Joni to the unmined gems of unknown authors, this music has taken Justin across the nation and around the world.
How it started…
A professional musician since the age of 12, beginning his career playing jazz standards and dance music on trumpet in his fathers band, Justin discovered his love of music and despite being an introvert, his love of playing for people!
A few years latter he also discovered that girls were more interested in guitar players than trumpet men and began playing guitar to form a rock and roll ensemble with some of his junior high school friends.
Justin attended college on a music scholarship for trumpet and continued to play guitar and bass in rock bands and eventually made Santa Cruz, California his home base, playing on the road for the next 10 years.
He was recruited to play bass and sing with Randy Sparks, founding member of The New Christy Minstrels, for a 3 month Scandinavian tour. It was on that tour that Justin met South African musicians Tony Cox and Steve Newman with whom he developed a professional relationship that took him to South Africa for a year of solo performance and with some of South Africa’s premier musicians including Winston Mankunku Ngozi. Because Justin was often going into the black townships to play music (this was illegal) and because of his political views against aparthied he was repatriated. He left SA for London to play bass with SA expatriate Julian Bahula but because of work visa issues was forced to return to California.
Justin moved to Denver in the late 80’s to a vibrant jazz/musical scene that introduced him to many wonderful players and led to several European tours. Eventually settling in Vail, CO where he lived and performed for several decades (and continues to play today) but moved to the country outside of Salida, CO to nurture his true introverted nature.
Justin has shared the stage and opened shows for a diversity of talent including Curtis Stigers, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Tuck and Patti, George Benson, Ray Charles, Natalie Cole, Rosanna Vitro, Al Green and Tito Puente.
"Justin is a very tasteful musician. It takes a high level of accomplishment to do what he does" Michel Camilo
Justin performs regularly as a solo artist and with his musical partner, Grammy nominated woodwind artist, Bob Rebholz, and many others.