Allen Youngblood
Allen Youngblood is a jazz composer, pianist and musician. Born in the US Virgin Islands, he was an artist-in-residence across several US states, setting up music festivals (and a jazz zine) before heading to Hong Kong. He’s been the musical director of the FCC for the past 16 years. He talks to Adam White ahead of his upcoming Grappa’s Cellar gig, about learning from musicians, bringing up his daughter—and impressing Dizzy Gillespie.
I grew up in Saint Croix, US Virgin Islands. I started to play when I was about four.
My dad was a Lutheran preacher—a minister. So I ended up having to play the piano for the choir, and the jazz ensemble.
I went to school as a music major, but they just weren’t teaching me. I switched to History of Philosophy, and went back to the Virgin Islands as a schoolteacher.
One time in Saint Croix I’m playing—this is an idyllic gig. There’s the Caribbean Sea right there, it’s a full moon, a beautiful place. But it was HOT. I’m playing, I’m sweating, and all of a sudden Dave Brubeck is standing in front of me. He’s like, “I love your harmonies, man.”
I start playing again, and all of a sudden I hear this trumpet. I look back, and here’s Dizzy Gillespie standing in the shadows!
He says, “Don’t make a big deal of this, young blood.” He didn’t even know my name! I took a walk down the beach with him. He’s got these Arabian Aladdin shoes on. Trippy.