Allen Markel is a recent transplant from NYC, where he balanced live performance with teaching. Allen studied at the University of Miami, and later received a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance from the prestigious William Paterson University. He studied bass with Rufus Reid and Todd Coolman and studied Latin music with Grammy-nominated Chico Mendoza.
For the past 20 years Allen has been a freelance musician performing at NYC clubs, including CBGB’s, The Bitter End, The Bottom Line, Village Gate, Dharma and Zinc Bar. In 2005 he played on Raphael Cruz’s CD “Bebop Timba,” which was nominated for a Grammy in the Latin Jazz category. In 2006 he produced a bass instructional DVD with Millennium Interactive.
Currently in Portland, Allen was nominated for the Cascade Blues Association's Muddy Waters award for Bass in 2008. Allen is performing with fellow Muddy Nominees “Kevin Selfe and the Tornadoes” and often freelances with other blues and R&B bands (Franco And The Stingers, Sonny Hess, Rae Gordon).
Allen has a passion for teaching as well. He has taught for over 10 years and has helped many students become well-rounded musicians able to adapt to any situation. Allen tailors his lessons to the goals of each student, whether it be live performance or self-edification, but always with a focus on the enjoyment of music.
Allen says, “It is a privilege for me to pass along what I have learned throughout my musical career to my students and help them develop their own talents. I want to help students feel that satisfaction and confidence that comes with making music and playing with other musicians-- there's really nothing like it.”