Geri Antoinette Allen (June 12, 1957 – June 27, 2017) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and educator. She taught at the University of Michigan and the University of Pittsburgh.
Early life and education Allen was born in Pontiac, Michigan, on June 12, 1957, and grew up in Detroit. "Her father, Mount Allen Jr, was a school principal, her mother, Barbara, a government administrator in the defence industry." Allen was educated in Detroit Public Schools. She started playing the piano at the age of seven, and settled on becoming a jazz pianist in her early teens.
Allen graduated from Howard University's jazz studies program in 1979. She then continued her studies: with pianist Kenny Barron in New York; and at the University of Pittsburgh, where she completed a master's degree in ethnomusicology in 1982. After this, she returned to New York.
Career
Allen became involved in the M-Base collective in New York. Her recording debut as a leader was in 1984, resulting in The Printmakers. This trio album, with bassist Anthony Cox and drummer Andrew Cyrille, also featured some of Allen's compositions. Allen was awarded the Jazzpar Prize in 1996. In the same year, she recorded two albums with Ornette Coleman: Sound Museum: Hidden Man and Sound Museum: Three Women.
In 2006, Allen composed "For the Healing of the Nations", a suite written in tribute to the victims and survivors of the September 11 attacks. She was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2008. Allen was a longtime resident of Montclair, New Jersey.Staudter, Thomas. "Making Jazz and Family, Home and the Road Work Together", The New York Times, September 9, 2001. Accessed September 18, 2017. "Her luggage already packed for a late afternoon flight to San Francisco, Geri Allen, a jazz pianist, still had several precious hours remaining before her departure out of Newark, so she was filling the morning in the company of three children, ages 3 to 11. Ms. Allen's husband, Wallace Roney, a trumpeter, had returned home after midnight from an evening rehearsal at Carnegie Hall, and to respect his need to sleep, mother and children romped in the yard until growling stomachs sent them back inside to the breakfast table.... Ms. Allen and Mr. Roney have lived in their three-story frame house in Montclair, a short trip from Manhattan, since 1991." Geri Allen and Wallace Roney were divorced in 2008. For 10 years she taught jazz and improvisational studies at the University of Michigan, and she became director of the jazz studies program at the University of Pittsburgh in 2013. Allen spent the last few years before her death performing with renowned pianist McCoy Tyner https://mccoytyner.com/and was also a part of two trio groups: ACShttps://www.laphil.com/people/acs-geri-allen-terri-lyne-carrington-esperanza-spalding and the Mac Power Trio. Allen also served as the program director of NJPAC's All-Female Jazz Residency, which off weeklong studies of jazz to younger women (ages 14-25).https://www.allaboutjazz.com/musicians/geri-allen
Personal life Allen married trumpeter Wallace Roney in 1995. They had a daughter and a son; the marriage ended in divorce.
Death Allen died on June 27, 2017, two weeks after her 60th birthday, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, after suffering from cancer.
Accolades DownBeat Jazz Hall of Fame, 2022 Honorary Doctorate of Music from Berklee, 2014 Guggenheim Fellowship, 2008 African American Classical Music Award from Spelman College, 2007 The Benny Golson Jazz Master Award, 2005 Distinguished Alumni Award from Howard, 1996 Danish Jazzpar Prize (first woman and youngest recipienthttps://www.allaboutjazz.com/musicians/geri-allen), 1996 Soul Trains Lady of Soul Award (first recipient) for jazz album of the year for Twenty-One, 1995
Discography As leader/co-leader Main sources:Jazzlists: Geri Allen: leader and co-leader discography. Retrieved November 22, 2017."Geri Allen Discography", JazzDisco.org. Retrieved November 22, 2017. Recording date Title Label Year released Personnel/Notes 1984–02The PrintmakersMinor Music1985Trio, with Anthony Cox (bass), Andrew Cyrille (drums, percussion) 1985–01Home GrownMinor Music1985Solo piano 1986–12Open on All Sides in the MiddleMinor Music1987With Rayse Biggs (trumpet, flugelhorn), Robin Eubanks (trombone), David McMurray (soprano sax, flute), Steve Coleman (alto sax), Jaribu Shahid (bass), Tani Tabbal (drums), Shahita Nurallah (vocals); plus guests Mino Cinelu (drums, percussion), Lloyd Storey (tap dance), Marcus Belgrave (flugelhorn) 1989TwylightMinor Music1989Trio, with Jaribu Shahid (bass), Tani Tabbal (drums), plus Sadiq Bey (congas, percussion), Eli Fountain (percussion) as guests, and Clarice Taylor Bell (vocals) on one track 1989–03In the Year of the DragonJMT1989Trio, with Charlie Haden (bass), Paul Motian (drums); one track quartet, with Juan Lazaro Mendolas (flute) added 1989–04SegmentsDIW1989Trio, with Charlie Haden (bass), Paul Motian (drums) 1990–01The NurturerBlue Note1991Sextet, with Marcus Belgrave (trumpet, flugelhorn), Kenny Garrett (alto sax), Robert Hurst (bass), Jeff "Tain" Watts (drums), Eli Fountain (percussion) 1990–12Live at the Village VanguardDIW1991Trio, with Charlie Haden (bass), Paul Motian (drums); in concert 1990–12Live at the Village Vanguard: Unissued TracksSomethin' Cool 2022 Trio, with Charlie Haden (bass), Paul Motian (drums); in concert. Posthumous release. 1992–02MaroonsBlue Note1992With Marcus Belgrave and Wallace Roney (trumpet), Anthony Cox and Dwayne Dolphin (bass), Pheeroan akLaff and Tani Tabbal (drums) in various combinations 1994–03Twenty OneBlue Note1994Trio, with Ron Carter (bass), Tony Williams (drums) 1995–12, 1996-03Eyes in the Back of Your HeadBlue Note1997Some tracks solo piano/synthesizer; some duos with Ornette Coleman (alto sax), Wallace Roney (trumpet) and Cyro Baptista (percussion); some trio tracks, with Roney (trumpet) and Baptista (percussion) 1996–03Some Aspects of Water Storyville1997With Henrik Bolberg Pedersen (trumpet, flugelhorn), Johnny Coles (flugelhorn), Kjeld Ipsen (trombone), Axel Windfeld (tuba), Michael Hove (alto sax, flute, clarinet), Uffe Markussen (tenor sax, soprano sax, bass clarinet), Palle Danielsson (bass), Lenny White (drums) 1998–02The GatheringVerve1998With Wallace Roney (trumpet, flugelhorn), Robin Eubanks (trombone), Dwight Andrews (piccolo, alto flute, bass flute, bass clarinet), Vernon Reid (guitar), Ralphe Armstrong (7-stringbass), Buster Williams (bass), Lenny White (drums), Mino Cinelu (percussion) in various combinations 2004–01The Life of a SongTelarc2004Trio, with Dave Holland (bass), Jack DeJohnette (drums); one track sextet, with Marcus Belgrave (flugelhorn), Dwight Andrews (sax), Clifton Anderson (trombone) added 2006–03Timeless Portraits and DreamsTelarc2006Trio, with Ron Carter (bass), Jimmy Cobb (drums); some tracks solo piano; some tracks with Wallace Roney (trumpet), Donald Walden (tenor sax), Carmen Lundy, George Shirley and The Atlanta Jazz Chorus (vocals) added in various combinations 2008–12Flying Toward the SoundMotéma2010Solo piano 2009–02Geri Allen & Timeline LiveMotéma2010Quartet, with Kenny Davis (bass), Kassa Overall (drums), Maurice Chestnut (tap dance) 2011–01, 2011-04A Child Is Born Motéma2011Solo keyboards; some tracks with Carolyn Brewer, Connaitre Miller, Barbara Roney and Farah Jasmine Griffin (vocals) added in various combinations 2012–08Grand River CrossingsMotéma2013Solo piano; some tracks duo, with Marcus Belgrave (trumpet); one track duo with David McMurray (alto sax) 2012–09A Lovesome Thing Motéma · Heartcore 2023 Duo, with Kurt Rosenwinkel (guitar). Posthumous release. 2015–06PerfectionMotéma2016Trio, with David Murray (tenor sax, bass clarinet), Terri Lyne Carrington (drums); one track sextet, with Wallace Roney (trumpet), Craig Harris (trombone), Charnett Moffett (bass) added
As a member General Music Project (G. M. Project)(Co-led by Kenny Garrett and Charnett Moffett) General Music Project (Sweet Basil/Apollon, 1994)
The Mary Lou Williams Collective Zodiac Suite: Revisited (Mary, 2006)
As sidewoman Main source:Jazzlists: Geri Allen sidewoman: main albums and selected single artist collections. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
With Franco Ambrosetti Movies (Enja, 1987) – rec. 1986 Movies Too (Enja, 1988)
With Betty Carter Droppin' Things (Verve, 1990) – live Feed the Fire (Verve, 1994) – live rec. 1983 The Music Never Stops (Blue Engine, 2019) – live
With Ornette Coleman Sound Museum: Hidden Man (Harmolodic/Verve, 1996) Sound Museum: Three Women (Harmolodic/Verve, 1996)
With Steve Coleman Group, 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) – 1 track
With Charlie Haden 1987: Etudes (Soul Note, 1988) 1989: The Montreal Tapes: with Geri Allen and Paul Motian (Verve, 1997) 1989: The Montreal Tapes: Liberation Music Orchestra (Verve, 1999)
With Oliver Lake Expandable Language (Black Saint, 1984) Otherside (Gramavision, 1988) Talkin' Stick (Passin' Thru, 2000)
With Charles Lloyd Lift Every Voice (ECM, 2002) Jumping the Creek (ECM, 2005) – rec. 2004
With Greg Osby Mindgames (JMT, 1988) 3-D Lifestyles (Blue Note, 1993)
With Wallace Roney Munchin' (Muse, 1993) Crunchin' (Muse, 1993) Mistérios (Warner Bros., 1994) Village (Warner Bros, 1997) No Room for Argument (Stretch, 2000) Prototype (HighNote, 2004) Mystikal (HighNote, 2005) Jazz (Highnote, 2007)
With Trio 3(Oliver Lake, Reggie Workman and Andrew Cyrille) At This Time (Intakt, 2009) Celebrating Mary Lou Williams–Live at Birdland New York (Intakt, 2011)
With others The Batson Brothers, Three Pianos for Jimi (Douglas, 1998) Cecil Brooks III, The Collective (Muse, 1989) Roy Brooks, Duet in Detroit (Enja, 1993) Buddy Collette, Flute Talk with James Newton (Soul Note, 1988) Craig Handy, Reflections in Change (Sirocco Music, 1999) Joseph Jarman, Inheritance (FourStar, 1991) Frank Lowe, Decision in Paradise (Soul Note, 1984) Paul Motian, Monk in Motian (JMT, 1988) Dewey Redman, Living on the Edge (Black Saint, 1989) Gregory Charles Royal, Dream Come True (GCR, 1979) Woody Shaw, Bemsha Swing (Blue Note, 1997) John Stubblefield, Bushman Song (Enja, 1986) Wayne Shorter, Joy Ryder (Columbia, 1988)Yanow, S. AllMusic Review accessed April 2, 2012 Gary Thomas, By Any Means Necessary (JMT, 1989) Ernie Watts, Unity (JVC, 1995) Buster Williams, Houdini (Sirocco Music, 2001) Reggie Workman, Cerebral Caverns (Postcards, 1995) V.A., Kansas City (A Robert Altman Film, Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (Verve, 1996)
Filmography Geri Allen portrays jazz pianist Mary Lou Williams and performs with the jazz band in the Robert Altman film Kansas City.
See also List of jazz pianists The Detroit Experiment
References
External links Geri Allen at Motéma Music Geri Allen at All About Jazz Geri Allen at NPR Music Jazz Conversations with Eric Jackson: Geri Allen, from WGBH Radio Boston Geri Allen at Rhapsody