|
Cass Tech Hall of Famer
Geri Allen
Dating from her early years at the legendary Cass Technical High School in Detroit, where her mentor was trumpeter Marcus Belgrave, pianist Geri Allen's musical world has always been characterized by collaboration and study. After graduating with a degree in jazz studies from Howard University in Washington, D.C. in 1979, she studied piano with Kenny Barron in New York, accepted jazz educator Nathan Davis's invitation to attend the University of Pittsburgh where she earned a masters in ethnomusicology, and returned to New York City in 1982.
In addition to teaching as an Assistant Professor of Music at Howard and garnering such honors as that university's Distinguished Alumni Award, the SESAE Special Achievement Award, the Eubie Blake Award from Cultural Crossroads, and recognition as the top Talent Deserving Wider Recognition in Down Beat magazine's 1993 and 1994 Critics Polls, Allen has amassed a stunning resume of musical collaborations. Her colleagues have included M-BASE musicians as well as modern greats such as saxophonists Oliver Lake, Julius Hemphill, Arthur Blythe, and Dewey Redman, trumpeter Lester Bowie, flutist James Newton, bassist Charlie Haden, and drummer Paul Motian.
Geri's Links
Home Page
Stanford.edu
Bio
VH1
Profile
|
