Geri Allen
June 12, 1957 - June 27, 2017
Geri Allen Enters the Downbeat Hall of Fame
Read the full article by Allen Morrison
"The subject of pianist, composer, scholar and educator Geri Allen is an endless fascination for me, as it should be for anyone interested in modern music.
So I was thrilled when "Chamber Music Magazine" gave me a few thousand words to express that, taking as my main inspiration the Fall/Winter 2020 issue of the journal, Jazz and Culture, which was focused solely on her." - Larry Blumenfeld
Read the full article by Larry Blumenfeld (pgs 36-40)
"'Was She Happy?' An Inside View of Kassa Overall and Vijay Iyer's Tribute to Geri Allen"
"Pianist Geri Allen, born on this day in 1957, was the common bond for countless musicians."
"Among them are Vijay Iyer, a sworn disciple, and Kassa Overall, her longtime drummer. Last summer they recorded a duo session that would yield the closing track on Overall’s daring and acclaimed recent album, I Think I’m Good (Brownswood Recordings)."
Read the full article by Nate Chinen for WBGO
"Geri Allen Tribute Quintet: Paying Respect to a Jazz Queen"
"... the Spoleto Festival USA Wells Fargo Jazz Series presented a special tribute to her life and legacy by presenting a Geri Allen Tribute Quintet program, which was held on May 30, 2019. The event took place on a warm, slightly humid night at the College of Charleston Cistern Yard.
This celebrated quintet, who gathered in the Lowcountry to performed this musical extravaganza in her honor, were drummer Terri Lyne Carrington, pianist Craig Taborn, bassist Robert Hurst, saxophonist Ravi Coltrane and tap dancer Maurice Chestnut. They came to Charleston to celebrate the life of a true jazz queen, and did exactly that."
Read the full review by Hakim Abdul-Ali at The Charleston Chronicle
It is with a heavy heart that we announce our beloved and brilliant Geri Allen passed away in the afternoon of June 27, 2017. In a career that spanned more than 35 years, Geri gifted us with her impeccable playing, composing, arranging and empowering young musicians everywhere by acknowledging the past and bringing the music forward with her innovative projects and her educational acumen.
Here is her aptly titled composition, "Unconditional Love" performed with Esperanza Spalding and Terri Lyne Carrington. Thank you Geri Allen for sharing unconditionally, your beautiful gift.
Videos
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Geri's Latest Recording
A Lovesome Thing
“Geri & Kurt — A ‘Lovesome’ Story in Paris”
Allen Morrison, Downbeat
Yamaha Artist
Pianist, composer, Guggenheim Fellow, and educator Geri Allen died on Tuesday, June 27, 2017 from complications of cancer in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She had recently celebrated her 60th birthday.