Allison Au
Applied Saxophone
Toronto-based alto saxophonist Allison Au (pronounced "ow") is a rising force as an improviser, composer and bandleader. Since assembling her quartet a decade ago she’s steadily gained recognition with a welcoming, interactive group sound inspired by post-bop idioms, Afro-Caribbean rhythms, pop music forms and R&B cadences.
Her debut album, “The Sky Was Pale Blue, then Grey” earned a Juno nomination in 2013, and her sophomore album “Forest Grove” seized the Juno for "Best Jazz Album of The Year: Group" in 2016. In 2019, her ensemble garnered yet another Juno nomination for "Best Jazz Album of the Year: Group" for "Wander Wonder."
Allison has toured extensively in Canada and the US. Winner of the 2017 Montreal Jazz Festival TD Grand Prix de Jazz, the 2017 Halifax Jazz Festival Sting Ray Rising Star Award, and a 2017 Finalist for Toronto Arts Foundation Emerging Jazz Artist Award, Allison was also featured in SFJAZZ’s 2018 list of "10 Rising Instrumentalists You Should Know.”
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