Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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ALLEN, Geri

(b 12 June '57, Pontiac MI) Piano, composer. Played in Howard University Ensemble '79; with Nathan Davis '80, Roscoe Mitchell '81, then with members of New York-based M-Base collective. Recorded The Printmakers '84 with Anthony Cox and Andrew Cyrille on bass and drums, and Home Grown '85, both on Minor Music. She came of age touring extensively with Charlie Haden and Paul Motian; some said this was the greatest trio then working: albums are Etudes '87 on Soul Note (as Charlie Haden/Paul Motian/Geri Allen), Segments '89 and the superb Live At Village Vanguard '91 with her name first, both on DIW, and In The Year Of The Dragon on JMT under her name. She is also established as a sought-after sideperson (e.g. in a Betty Carter superband '93) and as a solo star. A subtle, delicate and cultured soloist, she has also demonstrated, on The Nurturer '91 and Maroons '92 on Blue Note a considerable compositional gift; Twenty One '95 with Ron Carter and Tony Williams is half originals, half standards. Another album was Twylight on Verve; Eyes ... In The Back Of Your Head '97 incl. solo tracks, others with Wallace Roney or Ornette Coleman. She became the first woman to receive the Danish Jazzpar award '96, an honour putting her in the same category as Muhal Richard Abrams and Tommy Flanagan among pianists, to say nothing of Lee Konitz, David Murray, Roy Haynes and Tony Coe. Some Aspects Of Water '96 on Storyville made in Copenhagen presented her with a trio, with guest Johnny Coles and with a Danish nonet.