Where Y'At says:
"Shamarr Allen and the Underdawgs break out of the box and blend hip-hop, jazz, funk, and even some Latin rhythms together, producing an incredible musical collection entitled Box Who In? Allen begins with what sounds like screaming guitar licks, but it’s an effected trumpet and a memorable melody on “Bad Habit,” which infuses the classic pattern of New Orleans rock and brass sound throughout.  Allen does his own thing on “Crazy (‘bout New Orleans)” blending together an infusion of modern jazz...Read More->

Jazz Cat. Traditionalist. Pop Icon. Rapper. Rocker. Shamarr Allen is none of the above. The New Orleans trumpeter and vocalist who leads his own funk band, the Underdawgs, is making his mark on the national landscape as an artist determined not to be pigeonholed into any one genre. And his mounting fandom is enjoying the ride.

The 2009-2010 calendar year brought tremendous opportunity to Allen, including a performance for Barack Obama, a multi-city tour with country icon Willie Nelson, studio sessions with Nelson and friends, Ray Price, Leon Russell and R.E.M., the release of the red hot Saints anthem, Bring ‘Em to the Dome (racking up an impressive 500,000 hits on YouTube) and the production of the oil spill song “Sorry Ain’t Enough No More.”

A household name in New Orleans, not just for his scorching trumpet playing or playful vocals, but for his ability to bridge hip-hop, jazz, funk and rock, Allen leapt out of the box with the 2009 crowd pleasing release of “Box Who In?”

His 2008 solo release "Meet me On Frenchmen Street" was an homage to the storied past of New Orleans; "Box Who In?" is a vision of its future. The tracks are representative of what's here and now, with an insight into the man behind the horn. "The title of the CD is how I feel," says Allen and "I will not be put into the box of a particular style of music.  Maybe one day I will want to do a country record and I don't want to feel limited in any situation.“

And limited he is not.  Allen has risen through the ranks as a member of the Wolfpack, Mahogany, Hot 8 and ReBirth brass bands and he has shared stages with some of New Orleans' finest. But, he has recently come into his own as a bandleader to be reckoned with.

Shamarr Allen is certainly leaving his thumbprint on the music scene, transcending his local celebrity and spreading his star power throughout the U.S. and abroad. Once hailed as New Orleans’ latest trumpet flash, Allen is now regarded as “one of the brightest diamonds to emerge from the Crescent City in recent years.”