“You can tell that truly remarkable jazz guitarist Allemana has been playing with tenor saxophone icon Von Freeman for years — he always leaves plenty of space for his reedist… If we had to describe Allemana’s style, it would be ‘hard-driving.’ “–Chicago Tribune

“Mike Allemana….is an immensely gifted player with a deep harmonic bag and a grounded sense of adventure.” Chicago Reader 2009.

“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