Jazz Music, Jazz Piano - Geri Allen & Timeline Live - Interview

Jazz pianist Geri Allen is interviewed by Brian Pace of the Pace Report.
http://www.motema.com/artist/geri-allen

"Over the last 20 years I've watched pianist Geri Allen grow as a fine musician and communicator of the past, present, and future of what jazz music represents. Her latest Motema Music release "Geri Allen and Timeline Live" features tap dance sensation Maurice Chestnut, veteran bassist Kenny Davis, and drummer Kassa Overall. The disc is her first live recording as a leader and was recorded in 2009 a series of performances at Reed College in Portland, Oregon and Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio. Geri clearly fuses traditional jazz with hip-hop oriented themes that both Maurice and Kassa bring to the music as well as stage presence.

Geri, a native of Detroit, is part of the great tradition of legendary pianists that the city as produced and contributed to the world of jazz. Icons such as the late Hank Jones and Tommy Flanagan to Dr. Barry Harris. Geri's unique piano style fuses both the traditional Avant-Garde musical styles.

Throughout her many years in the business, Geri has backed and played with artists such as Charles Lloyd, Betty Carter, Dave Holland, Jack DeJohnette, Lee Konitz, and Wayne Shorter.

In addition of being a well noted musician, she's also the Associate Professor of Jazz and Contemporary Improvisation at the University of Michigan.

Geri and I sat down at the Motema Music Showcase live at The Iridium for the 2011 APAP Music Winter Conference."

Category:

Music

Tags:

• jazz
• jazz music
• jazz piano
• jazz pianist
• brian pace
• motema
• timeline
• geri allen
• maurice chestnut
• kassa overall
• kenny davis
• musical instruments

[dshore9535]

I am so thrilled to see this new group that Geri is exploring and exposing the jazz world. I spent some time in my youth being impressed by the addition of tap as a percussive instrument when I heard a local band playing with a talented tap dancer named Tommy Conine and having watched TV as a child seen a tap dancer named Ray Malone on the TV Show "Broadway Open House". With the loss of Gregory Hines the idiom has virtually disappeared and Geri Allen deserves a lot of support for bringing it.

[Saxman1219]

Absolute class! I had the priviledge of playing with her in the Howard University Jazz Ensemble. Keep the jazz alive Gerri!

[jordan54455]

I like David Benoit

[akaziaj]

Great performance, classy lady , great interview.

[geetarxist]

good