Femme Fatale Friday: Pianist Geri Allen

Geri AllenGeri Allen is an internationally known composer and pianist. Since 1982, she has recorded, performed or collaborated with artists as diverse as Ravi Coltrane, Donald Walden, Farah Jasmine Griffin, Bill Cosby, Sir Simon Rattle, Vernon Reid, JoAnne Akalaitis, Clark Terry, Carrie Mae Weems, Ron Carter and Tony Williams, Carmen Lundy, Lester Bowie's From the Root To The Source, Mino Cinelu, Dr. Billy Taylor, Joan Rivers, and Mary Wilson and the Supremes. [geriallen.com]

She has released a number of major recordings under her own name - Twenty One, Eyes in the Back Of Your Head, Maroons, The Gathering, Timeless Portraits and Dreams, et al. Her discography is near the bottom of this blog post.

Ms. Allen has also been the recipient of numerous recent honors, including but not limited to the Keys to the City of Detroit and the City of Cleveland, the Benny Golson Award from Howard University, and the African American Classical Music Award from Spelman College. Ms. Allen also distinguished herself as the first woman and youngest person to win the Danish Jazzpar Prize. [allaboutjazz.com]

In the following video, Geri Allen accompanies vocalist Betty Carter on "Giant Steps".

Geri Allen Tour Schedule

Sept 18  Friends of Santa Fe Jazz with Don Byron, Oliver Lake, Jeff Watts [Sante Fe, NM]

Sept 19  Albuquerque Performance Hall with Don Byron, Oliver Lake, Jeff Watts [Albuquerque, NM]

Sept 21  Jazz Alley with Don Byron, Oliver Lake, Jeff Watts [Seattle, WA]

Sept 22  Jazz Alley with Don Byron, Oliver Lake, Jeff Watts [Seattle, WA]

Sept 24  Yoshi's with Don Byron, Oliver Lake, Jeff Watts [Oakland, CA]

Sept 25  Yoshi's with Don Byron, Oliver Lake, Jeff Watts [Oakland, CA]

Sept 26  Yoshi's with Don Byron, Oliver Lake, Jeff Watts [Oakland, CA]

Sept 30  Mary Lou Williams Centennial Celebration [Madison, WI]

Oct 1      Mary Lou Williams Centennial Celebration [Madison, WI]

Oct 2      Mary Lou Williams Centennial Celebration [Madison, WI]

Oct 3      Mary Lou Williams Centennial Celebration [Madison, WI]

Oct 23    The Kennedy Center with Patrice Rushen & special guest Terri Lyne Carrington [Washington, DC]

Nov 11   Torino, Italy

Nov 12   C-Mine Jazz Festival [Genk, Belgium]

Nov 13   Museo Picasso Malaga [Malaga, Spain]

Nov 14   Culty Art [Madrid, Spain]

Nov 15   Centre Culturel Opderschmelz CCRD [Dudelange, Luxemburg]

Nov 16   London, UK

Nov 17   Zurich, Switzerland

Nov 18   London Jazz Festival [London, UK]

Nov 19   Geneva, Switzerland

Nov 20   Associazione Culturalr Centro Jazz Torino [Torino, Italy]

Dec 4      Kimmel Center with the Geri Allen Timeline Band [Philadelphia, PA]

 Discography

Okay!! Who has seen her perform live? Which one of her albums is your favorite and why? Do tell...

Ms. Allen has been the recipient of numerous recent honors, including but not limited to the Keys to the City of Detroit and the City of Cleveland, the Benny Golson Award from Howard University, and the African American Classical Music Award from Spelman College. Ms. Allen also distinguished herself as the first woman and youngest person to win the Danish Jazzpar Prize.