Introduction
Geri Allen (June 12, 1957 – June 27, 2017) was an American jazz pianist and composer.
A Detroit native, Allen worked with many jazz musicians, including Ornette Coleman, Ron Carter, Tony Williams, Dave Holland, Jack DeJohnette, and Charles Lloyd. She cited her primary influences to be her parents, Mount Vernell Allen Jr, and Barbara Jean Allen, and her primary musical influences to be mentors Marcus Belgrave, Donald Walden, and Betty Carter, as well as pianists Herbie Hancock, Mary Lou Williams, Hank Jones, Alice Coltrane, Cecil Taylor, Thelonious Monk, McCoy Tyner, Bud Powell, and mentor Billy Taylor.
Allen was an Associate Professor of Music and the Director of the Jazz Studies Program at the University of Pittsburgh.
Early life and career
Allen was born in Pontiac, Michigan and educated in the Detroit Public Schools.
Later life and career
In 2006, Allen was commissioned to compose "For the Healing of the Nations", a Sacred Jazz Suite for Voices, written in tribute to the victims, survivors and their families of the September 11 attacks. The suite was performed by Howard University's Afro-Blue Jazz Choir, under the direction of Connaitre Miller. Oliver Lake, Craig Harris, Andy Bey, Dwight Andrews, Mary Stallings, Carmen Lundy, Nnenna Freelon, Jay Hoggard, and other musicians also participated. The poetry was contributed by Sandra Turner-Barnes.
Allen died on June 27, 2017, a fortnight after her 60th birthday, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania after suffering from cancer.
Discography
As leader/co-leader
| Year recorded | Title | Label | Personnel/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | The Printmakers | Minor Music | Anthony Cox, Andrew Cyrille |
| 1985 | Home Grown | Minor Music | Solo piano |
| 1986 | Open on All Sides in the Middle | Minor Music | Racy Biggs, Robin Eubanks, David McMurray, Steve Coleman, Jaribu Shahid, Tani Tabbal, Shahita Nurallah, Marcus Belgrave, Mino Cinelu, Lloyd Storey |
| 1989 | Twylight | Minor Music | Jaribu Shahid, Tani Tabbal, Sadiq Bey, Eli Fountain, Clarice Taylor Bell |
| 1989 | In the Year of the Dragon | JMT | Charlie Haden, Paul Motian |
| 1989 | Segments | DIW | Charlie Haden, Paul Motian |
| 1990 | The Nurturer | Blue Note | Marcus Belgrave, Kenny Garrett, Robert Hurst, Eli Fountain |
| 1990 | Live at the Village Vanguard | DIW | Charlie Haden, Paul Motian |
| 1992 | Maroons | Blue Note | Marcus Belgrave, Wallace Roney, Anthony Cox, Dwayne Dolphin, Pheeroan akLaff, Tani Tabbal |
| 1994 | Twenty One | Blue Note | Ron Carter, Tony Williams |
| 1995–96 | Eyes in the Back of Your Head | Blue Note | Wallace Roney, Ornette Coleman, Cyro Baptista |
| 1996 | Some Aspects of Water | Storyville | Henrik Bolberg Pedersen, Johnny Coles, Kjeld Ipsen, Axel Windfeld, Michael Hove, Uffe Markussen, Palle Danielsson, Lenny White |
| 1998 | The Gathering | Verve | Wallace Roney, Robin Eubanks, Dwight Andrews, Vernon Reid, Ralphe Armstrong, Buster Williams, Lenny White, Mino Cinelu |
| 2004 | The Life of a Song | Telarc | Dave Holland, Jack DeJohnette |
| 2006 | Timeless Portraits and Dreams | Telarc | Ron Carter, Jimmy Cobb with Wallace Roney, Donald Walden, Carmen Lundy, George Shirley, and The Atlanta Jazz Chorus directed by Dwight Andrews |
| 2010 | Flying Toward the Sound | Motéma | Solo piano |
| 2010 | Geri Allen & Timeline Live | Motéma | Kenny Davis, Kassa Overall, Maurice Chestnut |
| 2011 | A Child Is Born | Motéma | Solo keyboards with vocalists |
| 2012 | Grand River Crossings | Motéma | "Motown & Motor City Inspirations", solo piano featuring Marcus Belgrave, David McMurray |
As sidewoman
With Roy Brooks
- Duet in Detroit (Enja, 1989 [1993])
With Betty Carter
- Droppin' Things (Verve, 1993)
- Feed the Fire (Verve, 1993)
With Ornette Coleman
- Sound Museum: Hidden Man (Harmolodic/Verve, 1996)
- Sound Museum: Three Women (Harmolodic/Verve, 1996)
With Steve Coleman
- Motherland Pulse (JMT, 1985)
- And Five Elements: On the Edge of Tomorrow (JMT, 1986)
- And Five Elements: World Expansion (JMT, 1986)
- And Five Elements: Sine Die (Pangaea, 1986) on one track only
With Buddy Collette
- Flute Talk (Soul Note, 1988) with James Newton
With Charlie Haden
- Etudes (Soul Note, 1987)
- The Montreal Tapes: with Geri Allen and Paul Motian (Verve, 1989 [1997])
- The Montreal Tapes: Liberation Music Orchestra (Verve, 1989 [1999])
With Oliver Lake
- Expandable Language (Black Saint, 1984)
- Otherside (Gramavision, 1988)
- Talkin' Stick (Passin' Thru, 2000)
- At This Time (Intakt, 2009)
With Charles Lloyd
- Lift Every Voice (ECM, 2002)
- Jumping the Creek (ECM, 2004)
With Frank Lowe
- Decision in Paradise (Soul Note, 1984)
With Paul Motian
- Monk in Motian (JMT, 1988)
With Greg Osby
- Mindgames (JMT, 1988)
With Dewey Redman
- Living on the Edge (Black Saint, 1989)
With Gregory Charles Royal
- Dream Come True (GCR 1979 reissued Celeste Japan 2008)
With Woody Shaw
- Bemsha Swing (Blue Note, 1986 [1997])
With John Stubblefield
- Bushman Song (Enja, 1986)
With Gary Thomas
- By Any Means Necessary (JMT, 1989)
With Trio 3 (Oliver Lake, Reggie Workman & Andrew Cyrille)
- At This Time (Intakt, 2009)
- Celebrating Mary Lou Williams (Intakt, 2011)
With the Mary Lou Williams Collective
- Zodiac Suite: Revisited (Mary, 2006)