Lee Allen is a solo pianist providing the sound of a professional jazz ensemble playing background music for receptions, dinners and quieter parties.
Lee Allen’s music style is unique -- popular music influenced by jazz and classical/romantic harmony and structure. Lee Allen's real experience in bands enables him to deliver a trio sound that is as authentic as the sound of three persons.
Lee Allen is a Preferred Vendor of the Los Altos Golf and Country Club, the Palo Alto Hills Golf and Country Club, the San Jose Country Club, the Hillsborough Racquet Club and the Saratoga Country Club. Lee Allen has more than a dozen references from a variety of settings available on request.
Lee Allen is a wonderful pianist with a great repertoire, just a beautiful chordal sense.
It's a thoroughly elegant sound.
He used our old baby grand to play the great 40s standards we requested for our mom's birthday celebration. He's a complete pro - prompt, prepared, adaptable, genial. Would highly recommend for your gathering.
Response from Lee Allen - Pianist:
Thank you so much Lisa - It was a pleasure to be of service. :-)
Lee Allen provided the tasteful, swinging, welcoming background piano music for the 90th birthday party I hosted aboard the Delta King riverboat hotel in Sacramento for the matriarch of my husband's family. As a professional musician myself, I know talent when I hear it, and I am very pleased to report that Mr. Allen was every inch the consummate, talented professional musician that anyone would hope to find. His unique "one-man-combo" style that utilizes keyboard, percussion and bass effectively filled up the space with gentle rhythmic effects and pleasing tonalities that went far beyond the sounds of a solo piano. Mr. Allen was a genuine pleasure to work with. He was responsive to all communications, showed up promptly at the appointed time, and had excellent stage appeal. His musical repertoire was perfect for my event, during which he played a nice mix of jazz standards and holiday tunes, all while adding his own imaginative riffs and subtle improvisations. His sense of timing during the party was impeccable, and he skillfully blended a mix of tunes to create a lovely, up-beat mood while maintaining enough variety to keep our ears awake and interested. I highly recommend Mr. Allen without reservation, and I would definitely hire him again in the future should the opportunity arise.
Lee Allen provided the tasteful, swinging, welcoming background piano music for the 90th birthday party I hosted aboard the Delta King riverboat hotel in Sacramento for the matriarch of my husband's family. As a professional musician myself, I know talent when I hear it, and I am very pleased to report that Mr. Allen was every inch the consummate, talented professional musician that anyone would hope to find. His unique "one-man-combo" style that utilizes keyboard, percussion and bass effectively filled up the space with gentle rhythmic effects and pleasing tonalities that went far beyond the sounds of a solo piano. Mr. Allen was a genuine pleasure to work with. He was responsive to all communications, showed up promptly at the appointed time, and had excellent stage appeal. His musical repertoire was perfect for my event, during which he played a nice mix of jazz standards and holiday tunes, all while adding his own imaginative riffs and subtle improvisations. His sense of timing during the party was impeccable, and he skillfully blended a mix of tunes to create a lovely, up-beat mood while maintaining enough variety to keep our ears awake and interested. I highly recommend Mr. Allen without reservation, and I would definitely hire him again in the future should the opportunity arise.
Response from Lee Allen - Pianist:
Thank you so much Valerie! It was my pleasure. :-)
Photos from this event
We had a very small cocktail party in our condo and Lee was the perfect talent to make the party festive and fun. He arrived on time, got acquainted with our piano and played for several hours straight. His background jazz of familiar songs was just what our party needed. A good time was had by all.
Lee had good communication in the app, arrived early for the event, and was very warm and friendly with my family. He practiced covid safety measures and played wonderfully. Will hire again! Thanks!
Response from Lee Allen - Pianist:
Thanks Tim, it was an honor and a pleasure! :-) LSA
Lee was a big hit that kept the hits coming at our company holiday party. The grand piano and the pianist that animated it made for a classy entrance to our extraordinary event. Lee played and played and played and played holiday classics and movie themes and all the best piano pieces. His presence was a warm one and made all our guests feel warm, welcomed and celebrated.
Response from Lee Allen - Pianist:
Thanks Beth, it was a joy and am honor to work with you. :-)
Lee is a great addition to any party. We hope to have him back soon.
Lee was on time, very professional and took requests from a guest. All our guests enjoyed the music at my son’s college graduation party. He played a variety of songs, too. We would hire him again without hesitation.
Response from Lee Allen - Pianist:
Thank you Rose! It was really nice to meet you and your family. Thank you for your kindness and generosity. Please let me know whenever I may be of service in the future.
Lee went above and beyond to make our wedding very special. Thank you!
Lee was fantastic - our party of 55 enjoyed every minute of Lee's performance. Looking forward to hiring him again at our next event.
Response from Lee Allen - Pianist:
Thanks Jim, it was a pleasure to serve.
Lee performed at a Holiday Party at our home and his music added to the festive mood of the event. He played a variety of songs and his back-up sound track made it sound like we had a trio playing. Lee was very professional, on time and a pleasure to work with.
Lee was wonderful to work with. This was my first time booking through Gigsalad or any live performer at that matter. So when I originally requested a quote through Gigsalad, Lee was willing to answer any silly questions I had. He was even willing to help me find a piano to rent for our event at our dealership! Talk about amazing service. He played nonstop during the event and all our clients loved his performance! I know who I will be booking for our next event! Thank you so much for such a great performance Lee!
Response from Lee Allen - Pianist:
Thank you Glenna, It's an honor to provide service to you.
Lee did an amazing job playing at our showroom opening. Many guests commented on how much they enjoyed the music. He did everything he could to accommodate us, even though he was not given much floor space. I would definately hire him again.
Response from Lee Allen - Pianist:
Thank you Gwendolyn, it was a pleasure to work with you. I was impressed by your hard work for the opening, and by the beauty of the showroom. I hope I get the chance to work with you again. - Lee Allen
Lee Allen is very punctual, responcible and pleasant person.
He arrived in time with his additional equipment.
We spent a really amazing time and his melodies were so sensetive and light that we hoped it will be the never- ending process.
Response from Lee Allen - Pianist:
Thank you Anastasiia, it was my pleasure and an honor. :-)
Very talented artist, helpful, on time, we plan to book him every year
Lee played the piano at our daughter's engagement party. Our family and all our guests were so delighted with the great music Lee provided. Lee is extremely talented. We highly recommend him. Lee is an amazing pianist!
Response from Lee Allen - Pianist:
Thank you Tina, it was a pleasure to serve you and your family. :-)
Superb performance, we would definitely hire him again!
Response from Lee Allen - Pianist:
Thank you Stacy! :-)
Lee was hired to play for our wedding celebration. He was very easy to work with and open to our ideas for music. Lee was professional, on time, and displayed a real talent for understanding what we were looking for. Lee set the tone for the celebration, and never stopped working till it was over. I would definitely hire Lee again.
Lee was hired for our wedding celebration. He was very easy to work with and provided a wonderful selection of musical arrangements for our event. He was very professional, on time, and demonstrated the ability to set the tone for the event with his music. He was kind and generous with his time and talent. I would hire Lee again.
Mr. Allen was very professional and provided our group with lovely holiday music for our annual luncheon. Many of our members asked if he would return next year, and we're talking to him about that very thing! We were really lucky to have him and he definitely added a great deal to the success of our annual luncheon/meeting.
I would highly recommend Mr. Allen for any type of event that required the professional services of a very talented pianist.
I have been working with Lee now for a few years. I have used him for professional events at work and he also played the reception hour at my daughter's wedding. He is a part of my "A" team when I have an event to execute as I know if he says he will be there at a set time, I could set my clock to it. Already have him hired for my 2014 events!
Lee knew not only the type of music that would fit our occasion and space -- but controlled other factors like the volume..beautiful disposition as well!
Just wonderful with the ebb and flow of the party.
We were very happy with the piano music provided by Lee Allen. It was beautifully played and arranged. It kept the mood high during cocktails and dinner.
Lee arrived early and was so pleasant and easy to work with, that I knew I wouldn't have to worry about his needs. He made my day so much less hectic than it could have been-in the past when I've hired a new entertainer, I usually have some issues, but with Lee I had absolutely none. He was fabulous and all of our 140 guests from all over the area and of all ages agreed. Thank you for making our Thanksgiving event even more special for our residents and their families with your truly wonderful performance, Lee!
Excellent,professional. Everyone enjoy nice selection of music. Definitely,great pianist player.
Lee was highly professional but also fun to work with. And the music was perfect! He has my highest recommendation.
Lee Allen made our special evening complete. We had a splendid birthday party and Lee played a wide variety of jazz and popular music arrangements which suited folks of all ages. Just the right volume too, never intrusive or limiting conversation. Highly recommended!
Lee is an amazing piano player. He is warm and kind person and all our guests loved him. Played Christmas music for us and it was wonderful. I swear he can play anything. I want to have a Frank Sinatra party and look forward to have Lee back. Truly a professional and a wonderful human being.
Dwight Perkins
Mr. Allen performed a beautiful selection of music for our annual company christmas function. Everyone in attendence was very pleased with not only has playing but the selection of music he chose for the event. This is the second time we have used Mr. Allen's services and would use him again in the future - we diffently recommend him to anyone looking for such a performer for their event.
Lee has played at my December Party for two years and I plan to hire him every time I need a pianist. His music is wonderful and he is very professional.
Lee played for the second year at our event, Wonderful Witchy Women with a Cause.
He played masterfully and beautifully. Everyone enjoyed his repertoire which was extensive.
I highly recommend hiring Lee Allen.
We enjoyed MR. Allen performance very much. He was very professional, coming to the place early to setup equipment and performing without any breaks. I would recommend his services to any piano jazz lovers, who prefer music on a background to provide ambiance.
Really enjoyed listening to Lee Allen's music. He is a wonderful pianist. If you have an event and need great jazz piano music, I recommend booking Lee Allen.
Lee Allen has provided music for our last (3) formal fundraising events. Always professional in demeanor and truly talented when it comes to his music and performance, he is the vendor at the top of our list every year to contact and book. Extra care is always taken by Lee to ensure early arrival, expert set-up and accommodations, as well as beautiful music suited specifically to our guests. He has become a vital part of our event and we hope to utilize his services for years to come.
Price Range: Typically $175 - 500 depending on details
Gig Length: 30 - 300 minutes
Languages: English
Unions: None
Total relaxation and rejuvenation as one listens to the sound of a jazz combo, playing standards, jazz and pop as instrumental background music.
Or... nothing, it's background music and designed to not get too much in the way.
Memphis, Tennessee. MIT. Carolina Piedmont. Silicon Valley. Blues in Mississippi. Taiko in Kyoto. Lee is on a quest, and it shows in his music.
The quest? To go beyond diversity and variety. Learning how we each are different is just a start; Lee is exploring how we are the same. And it shows in his music.
The goal? Bring out the best of every music. "The most important quality of a good arranger is insight", says Allen. "You've got to size up the song as though it were a person - it actually is somebody's baby, you know." Bring out the key strengths of the song, apply insight, look at the song a new way - the result is an arrangement that speaks directly to the listener's heart.
Insight, in this case, has been gained from a varied playing history that started when Lee began playing Memphis nightclubs at the age of 14 (don't tell!) in the late 60's. Lee later helped introduce a gospel choir to the MIT campus (and also held the pianist slot in the university's A-list jazz band for four years), arranged for pop and contemporary Christian singers during the '70's and '80's, and organized music programs in Cambridge, Massachusetts and Silicon Valley, California.
One summer job during college consisted of organizing friends into a band and touring Mississippi with soul legends Ollie Nightingale and an artist known only as "Big Daddy". Twenty days after the end of the tour, Lee was back in Boston, playing under the direction of Herb Pomeroy of the Berklee School of Music.
Lee does not use any high-minded labels for his work. "It's just pop," Lee says. "But I believe that pop music is very important because it is the prime indicator of where the general population stands musically at any given time."
"Music is a language of feelings and emotions. So, when I arrange or compose, I imagine "the listener" saying 'I am opening a door to my feelings, don't abuse my trust'. I understand that everybody likes a wild ride now and then, but I leave that music for others to make."
Lee seeks the themes that unify us and inspire us, that build us up. And it shows in his music.
I will plan to arrive 30-60 minutes prior to event start for setup.
Minimum setup area is 8' wide by 6' front-to-rear.
I require only one outlet and my equipment draws less current than a steam iron.
For outside events, my equipment requires a rigid surface (such as concrete, stone, blacktop, wood decking) and a grounded outlet with GFCI.
Corporate events: I have W9 available in PDF format.
| June 12, 2024 • 11:30am - 1:30pm | Corporate Event |
| December 17, 2022 • 4:30pm - 7:30pm | Christmas Party |
| August 20, 2022 • 4:00pm - 7:00pm | Birthday Party |
| February 17, 2022 • 11:00am - 12:00pm | Funeral/Memorial Service |
| December 12, 2021 • 11:00am - 2:00pm | Birthday Party |
| December 09, 2021 • 6:00pm - 8:00pm | Cocktail Party |
| September 29, 2020 • 12:00pm - 1:00pm | Anniversary Party |
| December 12, 2019 • 7:00pm - 10:30pm | Corporate Event |
| July 19, 2019 • 5:00pm - 8:00pm | Cocktail Party |
| June 01, 2019 • 12:30pm - 2:30pm | Graduation |
| June 02, 2018 • 3:30pm - 5:30pm | Wedding Cocktail Hour |
| December 09, 2017 • 11:00am - 1:00pm | Christmas Party |
| December 06, 2017 • 6:00pm - 9:30pm | Christmas Party |
| November 04, 2017 • 2:00pm - 6:00pm | Birthday (Adult) |
| April 20, 2017 • 6:00pm - 9:00pm | Product Promotion |
| March 01, 2017 • 6:00pm - 9:00pm | Cocktail Party |
| February 11, 2017 • 12:00pm - 1:00pm | Surprise |
| January 10, 2017 • 3:00pm - 4:00pm | Concert |
| December 17, 2016 • 6:30pm - 10:30pm | Cocktail Party |
| December 10, 2016 • 6:30pm - 8:00pm | Corporate Event |
| November 07, 2016 • 8:30pm - 10:30pm | Cocktail Party |
| September 10, 2016 • 12:00pm - 5:00pm | Wedding Engagement |
| August 26, 2016 • 5:30pm - 7:00pm | House Party |
| May 14, 2016 • 8:00pm - 10:30pm | Cocktail Party |
| December 19, 2015 • 4:30pm - 7:00pm | Cocktail Party |
| November 12, 2015 • 5:00pm - 8:00pm | Cocktail Party |
| June 13, 2015 • 8:00pm - 10:00pm | Cocktail Party |
| February 21, 2015 • 6:00pm - 8:00pm | Corporate Event |
| October 12, 2013 • 4:00pm - 9:00pm | Birthday Party |
Set list varies by engagement, and is subject to revision in real time depending on the situation.
--- These are style influences, not in order and not necessarily their tunes ---
Booker T and the MG's
Boston Pops (Arthur Fiedler)
John Williams
Ramsey Lewis
Ahmad Jamal
Herbie Hancock
Bert Kaempfert
Ray Anthony
Billy May
Neal Hefti
Annunzio Paolo Mantovani
Floor Area 8' wide by 6' front-to-rear
One working standard electrical outlet (for outside venues, GFCI outlet)
For outside events, a rigid surface (such as concrete, stone, blacktop, wood decking)
San Francisco, CA 
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