So, I know that to be a much coveted, on-call and in demand musician, is a significance in the career of any artist. Heart, soul, and life are enriched by such recognition and appreciation. There is no doubt that it is the how and who and way and why of the artist, that is the ultimate sum totality of the attraction.
Colleen Allen is described this way by Canadian vocalist, festival-maker, and soulful and selflessly generous artist Molly Johnson: “Exciting, confident, beautiful, soulful. Colleen is one fine musician.” How do you get enough of that? That description reflects a genuine player with a heartful of respect for the music played and shared.
In a quote describing some of the inspiration for her album Flashlight, Colleen leans into some words that are a good message about her own artistic trajectory: “I heard an interview recently with Wayne Shorter, where he described the past as a flashlight to the future… I loved the image of the past shedding light, informing the steps we take into the future.”
Allen is as inspired as she is inspiration.