Geri Allen
Geri Allen (born June 12, 1957) is an American composer, educator, and jazz pianist, raised in Detroit, Michigan, and educated in the Detroit Public Schools. Allen has worked with many of the greats of modern music, including Ornette Coleman, Ron Carter, Tony Williams, Dave Holland, Jack DeJohnette, and Charles Lloyd. She cites her primary influences to be her parents, Mount Vernell Allen Jr, and Barbara Jean Allen, and her primary musical influences to be mentors Marcus Belgrave, Donald Walden, and Betty Carter, as well as pianists Herbie Hancock, Mary Lou Williams, Hank Jones, Alice Coltrane, Cecil Taylor, Thelonious Monk, McCoy Tyner, Bud Powell, and mentor Dr. Billy Taylor. Allen is an Associate Professor of Music and the Director of the Jazz Studies Program at the University of Pittsburgh.
Early life
Allen was born in Pontiac, Michigan. She received her early music education at the Cass Technical High School in Detroit and the Jazz Development Workshop, where her mentor was the trumpeter/teacher Marcus Belgrave. In 1979, Allen earned her bachelor's degree in jazz studies from Howard University in Washington, D.C. She studied under composer Thomas Kerr, and pianists Raymond Jackson, John Malachi, Fred Irby, Arthur Dawkins, and Komla Amoaku. After graduation, she moved to New York City, where she studied with the veteran bop pianist Kenny Barron. From there, at the behest of the jazz educator Nathan Davis, Allen attended the University of Pittsburgh, earning a master's degree in ethnomusicology, returning to New York in 1982, and began touring with Mary Wilson and The Supremes.
Podcasts:
Geri Allen
ALBUMS
- Flying Toward the Sound released: 2010
- Timeless Portraits and Dreams released: 2006
- The Life of a Song released: 2004
- Three Pianos for Jimi released: 1998
- The Gathering released: 1998
- The Montreal Tapes released: 1998
- Some Aspects of Water released: 1996
- Eyes... in the Back of Your Head released: 1996
- Maroons released: 1992
- The Nurturer released: 1991
- In the Year of the Dragon released: 1989
- Segments released: 1989
- Etudes released: 1988
- The Printmakers released:
Geri Allen
ALBUMS
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Wake Up Screaming
by: Gary AllanUsed to sleep through the night peacefully
Not a care in the world got to me
But now I lay me down to sleep
I'm afraid of what I might see
I wake up screamin' when your dream goes by
Used to feel like a man in control
Unaware of the storm in my soul
The sight of you took away my breath
I wake up screamin' when your dream goes by
Now in this dream I'm in a room
All dressed up just like a groom
Watchin' shadows dance in the ledge
Suddenly you then appear you whisper in my hear
And I jump right over the edge
Just a dream that I seem to recall
Can't you tell me which doctor to call
Tell him please I'm not feelin too well
Everynight I'm hearin' wedding bells
I wake up screamin' when your dream goes by
I lay there in an ice cold sweat
Sheets are torn and they're soakin' wet
I wake up screamin' when your dream goes by
I wake up screamin' when your dream goes by
Latest News for: geri allen
Behind the music - Joanna Mattrey and Christine Tobin
The Detroit Jazz Festival's 2025 Artist-in-Residence is Jason Moran
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