Allan comes from Boulder, Colorado, part of a musical and artistic family that included circus musicians, band leaders, symphonic performers, horse breeders, and fine artists. He majored in trumpet performance at the University of Colorado, then studied composition with Cecil Effinger, a peer of Leonard Bernstein and Aaron Copeland in the Boulanger composition salon of Paris. At age 24 he started piano as his main instrument, and did graduate work at the University of Wyoming with Werner Rose and Charles Willman, a former student of Claude Debussy.
After correspondence study for composition with Eastman University, Allan chose to go to work as a performer, spending several years with successful dance, rock, and jazz ensembles. In 1988 he began a solo career, becoming a cocktail pianist and singer in five star resorts in Vail and Aspen, Colorado, as well as venues in Copenhagen, Quebec City, and several cruise ships. During his years in Vail he shared the stage with many famous performers such as Ray Charles, Judy Collins, Tom Petty, and John Denver. He also accompanied singers from the New York Met and the Central City Opera, and performed with ensembles from the New York Philharmonic. He continues to perform as a jazz and new classical pianist and singer, bandleader, and as an accompanist.
After twelve years and thousands of engagements, he founded Green Shadow Music to publish his recorded compositions, placing many works with music libraries and production companies in Los Angeles, London, Toronto, and New York. In addition, Stuart has released six solo and seven ensemble albums, signing with Eroica Classical Recordings in 2007 for distribution of his new classical piano works and orchestrated material. His albums are also now available from Ash Records based in Denver, and all digital music sales sites. Currently he works in a production studio on La Garita Creek, near headwaters of the Rio Grande.
Audience & Client Reviews
"My fiancé and I decided we wanted classical, yet fun and festive live music played while we wed in lieu of an iPod of canned music. Mr. Stuart is brilliant! He was so easy to communicate with, highly professional, and certainly knows his field. I told him the feeling we were going for and asked for one specific song for the processional, leaving the rest up to him. On the day, he arrived early, had learned our song, took his place at the piano and set the scene for our guests. It wouldn’t have been the same without him there. I can happily recommend Mr. Allan Stuart to anyone looking for a ceremony musician. We were very, very pleased"....... Shelley M.
"Allan was fabulous for our event. We enjoyed him tremendously and would love to work with him again. He is very talented musician who really added a wonderful touch to our evening!"………Becky L.
"Allan was a delight and a true asset to our wedding. He accommodated special requests, was on time, communicative, and fun. I'm so glad I hired him, I would recommend him to to anyone"………Rachal J.
Venue Reviews
“Allan Really Tangos”— Robert Guiscard, owner Tango's Bistro,Quebec City
"We call him Maestro, He knows so many different styles, and always picks the right thing. He's never too loud, always right there for the audience".... Andre Bosell, FB Manager, Manor Vail, Vail CO.
"He's the best pianist I've ever had here. Aspen people are unbelievably picky, but Allan gets only compliments." ..... Sue Parry, owner Colony Bar, Aspen CO.
"Our guests are very exclusive. Allan is very discreet, musically accomodating our ambience. we wouldn't have anyone else"..... Manuella Payne, Concierge at Lodge and Spa at Cordillera, Vail, CO.
"He never lets the crowd down. From old jazz to thumping pop to classical, he's always a virtuoso"....
Frode Haverstein, Exec Captain HMS Splendour of the Seas
Media Reviews
"Bearing a striking resemblance to David Bowie,… Allan Stuart entertains the dining crowd at Picasso with a flair all his own" .....Vail Daily 2006
"I get it now- you're a real interpretive pianist. What a great experience!".... Geoffrey Linken, Southhampton UK
"Great offerings in the New Age Instrumental genre...: ... Boulder Daily Camera
“Colony Bar patrons enjoy Stuart's renditions of jazz, pop, classical, Broadway and new-age tunes” ...... Aspen Sojourner 2004
"The more I listen to your music, Allan, the more appreciation I have for it. Your music is really filled with lovely imagery that didn't initially hit me until the second listening."...... Mark H., L.A. Times
"Great offerings in the New Age Instrumental genre...: ... Boulder Daily Camera
PERFORMANCE HISTORY:
In the Vail Valley Allan has played the Hyatt Regency, Beaver Creek Resort, the Vilar Center, the Chop House, and TraMonti’s in Beaver Creek. In Vail Village he has performed at the Manor Vail, the Lodge, Vail Village Inn, Platz’l, the Cascade and others. Elsewhere in the Valley he’s been heard at the Lodge and Spa at Cordillera, Piney Lake Ranch, and Eagle Valley golf course to name a few.
Over Vail pass in Summit County Allan has been at Keystone Resort, the Breckenridge Hilton, The Villager Hotel, Beaver Run Resort, the Lodge at Breckenridge, and other establishments.
In Denver, Boulder and Colorado Springs the significant venues include the Boulderado Hotel, the Adam’s Mark Hotel, the Broadmoor, the Brown Palace, the Oxford Hotel, the Fox Theater, the Fairmont Hotel, the Boulder Theater, the Essex Arms, Josephina’s, Swallow Hill, the Glen Miller Ballroom, the Boetcher Mansion, and Simm’s Landing.
Allan has some experience abroad and outside Colorado, largely as a piano bar entertainer on cruise ships including the Royal Princess, the Crown Princess, and the Splendor of the Seas. He has performed at Tango Bistro in Quebec City, Bach’s in Copenhagen, the Amskeller in Amsterdam.
Performance Resume Highlights:
2007: Pianist and singer at the Red Lion Hotel and the
5th Street Market in Eugene, Oregon
1997-2005: Pianist and Singer at the Colony in Aspen, the Park Hyatt in Beaver Creek, the Lodge and Spa at Cordillera, the Cascade and the Manor Vail in Vail, Colorado
1988-1995: Bandleader for The Jazz Ravens and the Allan Stuart Trio in Boulder. Owner of Ash Productions, producing albums, demos, and commercial recordings
2001-present: Original concert pianist and recording artist
2001- present: Recording Composer for the film and TV industry, with over 200 placements by 2014
2004-present: Publish recording composer of piano works, neo-classical virtual orchestrations, and mixed ensemble music
2008-present: Perform at mixed venues in
Oregon and Colorado
Performance Venue Highlights
Concert music has been performed at...
The Vilar Center in Beaver Creek, Ford Ampitheater in Vail,
The Creede Repertory Theater, Mackie Auditorium and the Glenn Miller Ballroom at the University of Colorado, Chautauqua auditorium in Boulder, Unity of Boulder,
Denver Auditorium Arena
Cocktail Music Venues...
In Vail and Aspen: Hyatt Regency/Park Hyatt- Ritz Carleton - Chop House - Vail Cascade - Manor Vail - Lodge at Vail - The Christie Lodge - The Colony Piano Bar - Lodge and Spa at Cordillera
Boulder and Denver: The Boulderado Hotel - The Essex Arms - The Adams Mark Hotel - The Brown Palace Hotel - The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs
Around about: H.M.S. Royal Princess, Crown Princess, Splendor of the Seas - Tango Bistro in Quebec City - Bach's in Copenhagen - Amskellar in Amsterdam - Red Lion Hotel, 5th Street Market (Eugene), and The Adobe Resort in Yachats, Oregon