Geri Allen

Born- Detroit, 1957
Education – Detroit Schools; Howard University
Educator at University of Michigan; University of Pittsburgh (as director of jazz studies)
Founded All-Female Jazz Residency Program at New Jersey Performing Arts Center

Who influenced her style?
Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner, Cecil Taylor

Who was influenced by her?
Vijay Iyer, Jason Moran, Craig Taborn

Who did she play with?
(Lots of people – note the diversity of styles)

• Charlie Haden and Paul Motian (avant garde)

• Tony Williams and Ron Carter (straight ahead)

• Ornette Coleman (out there)

• Betty Carter (bold, adventuresome vocalist)

• Steve Coleman’s M Base (world influenced)

• Terri Lynne Carrington and Esperanza Spalding

Notable quotes

Geri “reconciled far flung elements of jazz tradition” -Giovanni Russonello, NYTimes

 “The music of most African societies integrates all of the arts, particularly dance” - Geri Allen

“She could go anywhere, and she wasn’t in a box” - Teri Lynne Carrington

Interviews/videos about her life

NYTimes obit

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/27/arts/music/geri-allen-dead-jazz.html

Carmen Lundy’s memorial to Geri (vocalist who worked with Geri)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4p88yDceZ_o

Jazz Museum in Harlem interview

http://jazzmuseuminharlem.org/remembering-geri-allen/  

More resources and information about each composer are found at
Mary Lou Williams
Geri Allen
Carla Bley
Christine Jensen