| Genres: |
Jazz
|
| Descriptive "tags": |
jazz • piano • jazz piano • free jazz • avant-garde
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| Decades Active: |
1980s
•
1990s
•
2000s
|
Biography
12 June 1957, Pontiac, Michigan, USA. Pianist Allen grew up in Detroit, steeped in the city’s strong bebop and black pop traditions (one early gig saw her playing with Mary Wilson and the Supremes), though Eric Dolphy, Herbie Nichols and Thelonious Monk were also major influences. She studied music at Washington’s Howard University and at the University of Pittsburgh (with Nathan Davis) and later with Roscoe Mitchell. Moving to New York in the early 80s, she played with numerous contemporary jazz musicians, including James Newton and Lester Bowie, and recorded her debut The Printmakers in 1984 with a trio that featured Andrew Cyrille. She also became involved with the M-BASE and Black Rock Coalition organizations and the former’s Steve Coleman and Robin Eubanks played on her Open On All Sides In The Middle. Later in the 80s she was a regular member of Oliver Lake’s groups (Plug It, Gallery, Impala, Otherside) and toured and recorded with...
Read the Full Biography of Geri Allen
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