Allen Eager (January 10, 1927 – April 13, 2003) was an American jazz tenor and alto saxophonist who also competed in auto racing and took part in LSD experiments.

[3][4] His band consisted of Ed Finckel (piano), Bob Carter (bass), and Max Roach (drums); two of the tracks formed Eager's first release as leader.

[5] His playing style on tenor saxophone was, along with contemporary saxophonists Zoot Sims, Stan Getz, Al Cohn and others, strongly influenced by Lester Young;[6] Eager appears to have been the first of this group to follow Young's light sound on tenor,[4] and was the best known and most respected of them at that point.

[7] Unusually for a white saxophonist of the time, Eager was a member of several bands led by black musicians.

Critic Ira Gitler commented positively on the concerts: "Whatever he played swung with a happy, light-footed quality and pure-toned beauty".

Eager mentioned the death of Charlie Parker (in 1955) and his own problems with drug addiction as reasons for his withdrawal from the scene.

[17][18] Eager went on to pursue other activities such as skiing, competitive auto racing, and LSD experiments with Timothy Leary.

[2][19] Encouraged by their success, they flew the car to Europe and took part in the 1000 km Nürburgring; Eager crashed.

[20] Eager occasionally dabbled in music again, playing alto saxophone[3] with Charles Mingus at the rival Newport Jazz Festival in 1960.

[21] Ira Gitler noted that "The years away from his horn had made him rusty; moreover, the old fire and fine timing were heard only in fleeting moments".

[22]: 190–92  The pianist for this quartet session, Hod O'Brien, remembers Eager making a very slow start: "it was as though he had never blown a sax before [... but] slowly and surely, the lines got clearer and longer.