Interview with Geri Allen

[Guy Berger]

Apparently her next album features Jimmy Cobb & Ron Carter.

link

[fasstrack]

Apparently her next album features Jimmy Cobb & Ron Carter.

link

Good interview. I agree with everything she said. 100%

[Ken Dryden]

It's due out this month, but it is not strictly a trio affair. Telarc sent me an advance to help

me prep for my interview with her, which was the source for my recent Hot House article.

It's a great CD, with a lot of variety!

[fasstrack]

It's due out this month, but it is not strictly a trio affair. Telarc sent me an advance to help

me prep for my interview with her, which was the source for my recent Hot House article.

It's a great CD, with a lot of variety!

You write for All about Jazz, right? I've seen your byline and probably read a review or two.

[AllenLowe]

I'd be interested in seeing the actual De Barros review; he's a very smart guy so I would not dismiss it out of hand -

Edited June 14, 2006 by AllenLowe

[Rooster_Ties]

It's a great CD, with a lot of variety!

You're probably just sayin' that, in case you ever happen to end up on a speaking pannel with her sometime.

[Ken Dryden]

It's a great CD, with a lot of variety!

You're probably just sayin' that, in case you ever happen to end up on a speaking pannel with her sometime.

If Paul de Barros is the interviewer, it will be worth reading.

I don't pull punches, though there are probably a few artists that I'm not eager to run into at IAJE after some scathing reviews (not that I write that many). I contribute to Coda, All Music Guide, Allaboutjazz-New York, Allaboutjazz.com and Hot House (NY). Once in awhile, I also do liner notes (1-2 a year at best).

[Ken Dryden]

The word from my Telarc publicity contact is that Geri Allen's CD Timeless Portraits and Dreams will be released on August 22.

[Lazaro Vega]

Interesting comment about Lil Hardin, who was a more "schooled" musician than Louis at that stage of the game. Though the ensembles are cool, and the layout of the Hot Fives and Hot Sevens is clear, it's the improvised music that keeps my attention, the solos.

Is this review under discussion about Geri's last Telarc album with DeJohnette? That disc, and the recent Charles Lloyd CD, do float between "inside" and "outside" playing effortlessly. But that is anything but "chick" music. It's more challenging than, say, the way Maria Schneider moves between inside and outside.

[CJ Shearn]

I agree with what Allen said. Jazz isn't a masculine or feminine music, it all lies within the energy and creativity of the musicians. If challenging jazz was "masculine" then there wouldn't be artists like Hiromi who are playing energy filled power packed music.

Edited June 15, 2006 by CJ Shearn

[AllenLowe]

is anyone able to post De Barros's original article? I'm prejudiced, as I know and like him - also, I can tell you from personal experience that Geri Allen is not the easiest person in the world to deal with - great pianist, however -

[Ken Dryden]

It took awhile to nail down a final time for my interview with Geri Allen, but she was working on the final stages of recording and remixing her upcoming CD. I had no problems talking with her, she seemed very friendly. I'm sorry that I missed a recent opportunity to hear her at the Atlanta Jazz Festival.

I don't know how to access Paul's interview with her.

Edited June 15, 2006 by Ken Dryden

[AllenLowe]

I just sent De Barros an email - if I get the text I'll post it -

[Simon Weil]

I agree with what Allen said. Jazz isn't a masculine or feminine music, it all lies within the energy and creativity of the musicians. If challenging jazz was "masculine" then there would be artists like Hiromi who are playing energy filled power packed music.

Well, I agree. But, if you go with someone like Wynton Marsalis it is very much a masculine music. He never comes right out and says it, but it's there in his actions and in between the lines.

This is one of those places where energy and creativity can be blocked simply because the people at the top won't/can't/don't know how to listen.

I have an article coming on WM and women, so it's on my mind.

Simon Weil

Edited June 15, 2006 by Simon Weil

[CJ Shearn]

yeah, it's a shame Wynton won't allow great musicians like Anat Cohen, Sherri Maricle, Terri Lynne Carrington, Mimi Fox into his circle.

[Lazaro Vega]

On the subject, Geri's appearance with Ornette Coleman, whose music is intentionally androgenous (sp), should complicate the issue.

[Guy Berger]

On the subject, Geri's appearance with Ornette Coleman, whose music is intentionally androgenous (sp), should complicate the issue.

Why is Ornette's music androgynous?

Guy

[JSngry]

Are we correct to label yin and yang energies as "masculine" & "feminine", as if genitalia were the sole determinant on quality of energy?

I don't think so. I think what we're inadvertantly doing is using general tendencies to lose sight of the broader truth.

[Lazaro Vega]

Ornette has made strong statements about music and sexuality, and he comes down on the side that sex is a disruptive force in the music's purity of expression. Whether he suceeds in this is debateable, but that is one of his intentions.

[Guy Berger]

Ornette has made strong statements about music and sexuality, and he comes down on the side that sex is a disruptive force in the music's purity of expression. Whether he suceeds in this is debateable, but that is one of his intentions.

OK. I don't hear more or less femininity/masculinity/androgyneity in his music than in any other instrumental music.

Guy

[Ken Dryden]

The ladies might give him too hard a time!