Voted Best Jazz Soloist in the 2008 Best of Chicago Reader's Poll in the Chicago Reader.
“Allemana is a hard-driving, deep-listening guitarist with a gorgeous tone, one of the brightest and most dedicated talents on the Chicago jazz scene.”
-Michael Jackson, Downbeat
"...dazzling technician..."
-Chicago Jazz Magazine
"…forges a sleek but sturdy North Side sound out of South Side tradition."-Lloyd Sachs, Chicago Sun-Times
"...an outstanding player with a bright future of his own."
-The Chicago Reader
"(Von Freeman's) band gets its distinctive tang from another well-kept secret, guitarist Michael Allemana, whose fleet, Kansas City blues-inflected playing and sleek chords make bebop picking sound new again."
-Kevin Whitehead
"...wonderful..."
-John Corbett, Down Beat Magazine
"…lays down the gauntlet, performing wondrous runs and nice chordal work…"-Jazzitude.com
"Michael Allemana is one of those rare types like Toronto’s Ed Bickert, who churns out mainstream lines and variations in the most expected of forms yet makes it obvious that he’s toying with the piece as if he’s playing it for the first, not the thousandth time. "-Jazzword.com
"Allemana..takes obvious pleasure in drawing us into his focused, usually self-assured playing. 3 stars."
-Down Beat Magazine review of "The Mike Allemana Organ Trio" CD, April 2001
"...hands off to Mike Allemana. His lines are swift: as fluid as Tal Farlow, he gives each note a good hard snap."
-JazzUSA.com
"...one of the most discreet guitar players in town..." Jazz Institute of Chicago
Known as tenor sax legend Von Freeman’s guitarist since 1997, Mike Allemana is one of the busiest musicians in Chicago. Born and raised near Chicago, in Elmhurst, IL, Mike became interested in jazz at age 12 after being introduced to the music of George Benson by his guitar teacher at Perry's Music in Villa Park, IL. In high school he played in the York High School Jazz Band, directed by Curt Merrill, and then decided to pursue music and enrolled at Northern Illinois University, where he studied with Fareed Haque. After graduating in 1991 Mike spent two years playing in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he spent many nights listening to and absorbing the playing of legendary guitarists Cal Collins and Kenny Poole. In 1994, Mike decided to move back to Chicago where he has become one of the most in-demand guitarists on the jazz scene.
After returning to Chicago, Mike began to make music with some of the most renowned local artists. His credits include playing from 1996-1997 with organ great Charles Earland, 1995-1999 with tenor saxophonist Lin Halliday, 1998-2002 every Wednesday with tenor saxophonist Ron Dewar, and, most notably, the ageless tenor sax legend, Von Freeman. Mike has been playing with Von Freeman at his famous Tuesday night gig at the New Apartment Lounge in Chicago since 1997 and has toured with Von to places like Berlin, Minneapolis, and Philadelphia, where in 2005 they appeared with drumming legend Mickey Roker. Mike can also be heard on Von Freeman’s 2002 release The Improvisor on Premonition Records. He has also made appearances from 1997-1999 with organ master Lonnie Smith, in 2006 performed with drum-master Jimmy Cobb along with Von Freeman, and in 2008 performed with alto saxophonist Steve Coleman.
Mike's first CD was on the TuConn label, The Mike Allemana Organ Trio, which received three and a half stars from Down Beat magazine (April 2001). In 2006, he released his second CD, Inner Rhythm, which features his original compositions performed by his quartet which includes saxophonist Geof Bradfield and drummer Ted Sirota. In 2009, The Mike Allemana Organ Trio will be releasing their second CD, Lin's Holiday, which was engineered by the late David Baker.
Other projects that Mike is a part of include: a highly-acclaimed vocal/guitar duo with vocalist Gingi Lahera, which released their critically acclaimed debut CD in 2006, The Night’s Womb and the Morning Sun; violinist Steve Gibons' Gypsy Rhythm Project, an ensemble that includes cimbalom master Nicolae Ferraru and performs the music of Eastern Europe; the Model Citizens, a local big band lead by pianist/composer Brian O’Hern for which Mike has been a feature soloist and arranger since the band was created in 1996; The Regulators, a cutting-edge band that combines free concepts with funk-based rhythms and comprises of the rhythm section of the Model Citizens; and Come Sunday, a very popular 4 voice ensemble with jazz trio that mixes jazz concepts with old gospel spirituals of which Mike is the musical director.
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