Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, vocalist and composer/lyricist Aimée Allen's connection with music began as a child. Her childhood was scored with classic jazz, because her mother kept the music on the family turntable. Aimée first began singing jazz professionally with a cappella groups in college. After graduation, Aimée moved to Paris where she performed in jazz clubs and festivals and formed, with other musicians, Les Bossa Novices, a Paris-based group dedicated to bossa and jazz.
Photo: Ksenia Scheffer
“A fully fledged composer, lyricist and vocalist, her ideas are filled with depth and meaning, and her lyrics profoundly unique.”
- Constance Tucker, All About Vocals
“A brilliant singer and even more thoughtful lyricist”
- H. Allen Williams, JazzTimes
Now based in New York, she tours regularly in the U.S. anad abroad. Aimée has released 6 albums. Her latest, Love & the Catalyst was nominated for a 2023 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Jazz Album - Vocal. Standards and bossa are part of her repertoire, but an accomplished songwriter, she also sings her own compositions, many of which are requested favorites. Her original music has been licensed for feature film and network television. She has sung with many renowned musicians including Romero Lubambo, Ron McClure, François Moutin, Rozwell Rudd, Ari Hoenig, and
Yomo Toro.
Aimée has been named on Downbeat’s Critic’s Poll as a Rising
Star jazz vocalist, and is the recipient of a Chamber Music America New Jazz Works
grant to create new music
for her trio with Françoi Moutin
and Tony Romano.