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Allen Hoist is a prodigal man, born in New-York. After studying music at the very select "High School Of Performing Arts" (the school from the movie "Fame"), the gifted vocalist & multi-instrumentist (saxophone, flute, cello) took his first steps on stage with such Soul, Jazz & Latin legends as Tito Puente, Dizzy Gillepsie, Millie Jackson, Solomon Burke, Sam & Dave, Ron Carter… and Mongo Santamaria who'll bring Allen Hoist on his first European tour. This tour becomes the start point of a serious love affair between Allen Hoist and Paris...
Establishing himself successfully in France, he offers his talent to many bands for numerous live and studio sessions around the world. He then puts together a quintet that includes some of the best parisian players in Jazz & World Music: Mario Canonge, Lynley Marth, Orlando Poleo, Jeff Boudreaux… He puts out a classical jazz album in 2000 called "Just before Spring" (Iris music label) .
He also works as an actor, both on stage and in movies. Allen Hoist is a busy-busy man...
Today, as a composer, arranger, performer, he works hard to keep soul music alive, collaborating with solid producers in London, Paris & Scandinavia: 4 Hero, Swell Session, Greg Gauthier & Tony L.... He's backed by great live Jazz instrumentalists such as pianist Mario Canonge, bassist Linley Marth, percussionist Ravi Magnifique... Allen Hoist is, of course, on lead & backing vocals, flute, saxophone.
The mix of these great talents creates a brilliant combination of acoustic & electronic sounds, that covers the great Black Music full spectrum : Soul, House, Jazz, Broken Beat, Doo Wop, Nu Soul, Afro Beat, Latin, Funk… These recording sessions, entitled "The Retrofuturistic Soul Experience" give a real breath of fresh air unto the soul nation. Allen Hoist's music spreads groove, authenticity & happiness. It's modern soul music... with soul !
"The Retrofuturistic Soul Experience" singles series: "Inner City Blues" (2004) - "With Love part 1 & 2" (2005) - "You'll Never Know" (2005) - "The Lost & Found Sessions" (2006) has been acclaimed from New York to Tokyo, London to Toronto, in Paris, Johannesburg, Milan… It's been air-played by mainstream & underground radios such as: BBC 1 (uk), Radio Nova (france), Kiss Fm (uk), CKLN (canada), Jazz Fm (uk) Tokyma Fm (japan), NRJ (france), Smooth Fm (uk), XM Radio (usa), Radio FG (france), Subground FM (germany), Radio Monte Carlo (italy), 1 Xtra (uk), Generations Fm (france)...spun, charted, compiled or supported by great DJs such as: Norman Jay, Gilles Peterson, Joey Negro, DJ Morpheus, Knee Deep, Robert Owens, Rainer Truby, Little Louie Vega, Kyoto Jazz Massive, Jazztronik, Mr Scruff, Claude Monnet, Patrick Forge, Basement Boys...and features on these compilations: Jazztronica, selected by Jazztronik (Gate Records - Japan) - Testament Of House 3, selected by Knee Deep (Ministry Of Sound - Germany) - Soul & Jazz in the House, selected by DJ Rico (Slip'n'Side - UK) - Hugo Boss, selected by Kyoto Jazz Massive (Rambling records - Japan) - Marula Soul 2 & 3 (Lovemonk - Spain) - Cool Trends, selected by Rui Murka (Difference music - Portugal) - Colours Of Groove 5 (P-Vine Records - Japan) - So Happy In Paris selected by Michael Canitrot & KFK (RLP Mix - France) - Smash Disco selected by Marco Fullone (Soul Star - Germany)...
The original releases of "The Retrofuturistic Soul Experience" ("Inner City Blues" - "With Love part 1 & 2" - "You'll Never know") were actually on the now closed Soulution label. They are now being re-issued on Soulab. The "Lost & Found Sessions" concludes with class this singles series before an awaited upcoming album. But words can only do so much, so listen and let the music explain to you why he is called "the prodigal Allen Hoist"...