jazzbo Posted March 19, 2004 Report Posted March 19, 2004 Okay, I've been listening to a lot of pianists lately (I was thinking it has something to do with the possibility of having a Stienway grand in my home that is impending, but no, it precedes that). . . . And one of them is Geri Allen, who was another amazing player I had not paid enough attention to for years now. Geri has such imagination and such "ears"! And she has created an impressive body of work. I've been playing over and over lately (something I don't normally do) the Jazzpar 98 "Some Aspects of Water" cd on Storyville, a wonderful cd that has great trio, quartet and nonet performances in killer sound! And I keep coming back to "Twenty One" with Ron Carter and Tony Williams. . .a work that had to grow on me, but now needs to be surgically removed! Like Renee Rosnes, another beautiful player with a tremendous touch and control, great writing and arranging skills, and great leadership abilities. Don't make my mistake and overlook her works. Quote
Pete C Posted March 19, 2004 Report Posted March 19, 2004 You haven't even mentioned the trio with Haden & Motian. Quote
A Lark Ascending Posted March 19, 2004 Report Posted March 19, 2004 (edited) I really liked Allen's early 90s recordings but was very disappointed with 'The Gathering' which seemed muddy and confused (both in concept and sonically). I've got the new Andy Bey winging its way across to me at present on which she plays. I'm looking forward to hearing her again. She seems to have taken a low profile of late. The one time I saw her live was with Betty Carter at the concert that made the 'Feed the Fire' album. Excellent with Holland and De Johnette. Apparently she wasn''t well but you'd not have known it. Edited March 19, 2004 by Bev Stapleton Quote
jazzbo Posted March 19, 2004 Author Report Posted March 19, 2004 I know, I haven't mentioned that trio. Had to leave something for someone to mention! I'm warming up to The Gathering. It's something I didn't like at first, but it's talking back to me. . . . Quote
Aggie87 Posted March 19, 2004 Report Posted March 19, 2004 Geri plays very nicely on Franco Ambrosetti's "Movies, Too" also. Haven't picked up the first "Movies" disc, but plan to check that one out as well. She also plays on Bobby Hutcherson's nice '99 date, "Skyline". Quote
Big Al Posted March 19, 2004 Report Posted March 19, 2004 Twenty One has to be one of the grandest debut albums ever released. And the fact that she more than holds her own against such imposing figures as Carter and Williams belies her tender age! Yes, I do need to check out some of her other work! Quote
Big Al Posted March 19, 2004 Report Posted March 19, 2004 Forgot to mention her lovely playing on the After Glow soundtrack, a disc very much worth seeking out, IMHO! Quote
jazzbo Posted March 19, 2004 Author Report Posted March 19, 2004 Geri was a little older that 21 when that was recorded. . . she was born in 1957 (makes her younger than ME, but just barely, and a little older than Sade). Quote
relyles Posted March 19, 2004 Report Posted March 19, 2004 Twenty One has to be one of the grandest debut albums ever released. And the fact that she more than holds her own against such imposing figures as Carter and Williams belies her tender age! Yes, I do need to check out some of her other work! It was not her debut. She recorded five or six recordings as a leader before this one, not to mention the great stuff in the trio with Charlie Haden and Paul Motian. Allen is a favorite of mine. She is overdue for a new document as a leader. Quote
Eloe Omoe Posted March 19, 2004 Report Posted March 19, 2004 Allen is a favorite of mine. She is overdue for a new document as a leader. It's just coming our way. Allen has signed with Telarc, and will release a new CD late August (a trio session with Dave Holland and Jack DeJohnette). Luca Quote
Big Al Posted March 20, 2004 Report Posted March 20, 2004 It was not her debut. She recorded five or six recordings as a leader before this one, not to mention the great stuff in the trio with Charlie Haden and Paul Motian. Allen is a favorite of mine. She is overdue for a new document as a leader. Oh wow, I didn't know that! But it's still a great album nonetheless! Quote
DrJ Posted March 20, 2004 Report Posted March 20, 2004 (edited) I'm a big Allen fan, too - to me the Haden and Motian trio date from the Vanguard is one of the finest piano trio recordings in jazz history. That good - simply unbelievable, right up there with the best of Bill Evans' trios, but with its own sound and vibe. I like the playing on TWENTY ONE fine, but feel it's one of those "I'm Tony Williams, Godlike drummer, so crank me up in the mix" dates where it just throws off the whole balance for me...just because you're a genius doesn't mean you should drown everyone else out! Edited March 20, 2004 by DrJ Quote
SEK Posted March 20, 2004 Report Posted March 20, 2004 I sure like the music Geri Allen has made with Oliver Lake! Quote
kh1958 Posted March 20, 2004 Report Posted March 20, 2004 I sure like her alot also. I've had the opportunity to see her live a couple of times in the last few years--with Wallace Roney and with a group including Chico Freeman and Richard Davis, and left very impressed with her playing. Quote
shrugs Posted March 20, 2004 Report Posted March 20, 2004 I have The Nurturer in myy car right now. Great music for my morning rides to school. Etudes with Haden/Motian is my favorite. Quote
frank m Posted March 20, 2004 Report Posted March 20, 2004 No argument here. But I first saw her in a segment of the Altman film about Kansas City. That segment is available as a video tape and probably now as a DVD. Whatever its maybe the best piece of video on jazz I've ever seen save for the one Whitney Balliett did early on with Billie Holiday and some of the best players of the day. Quote
B. Goren. Posted April 17, 2004 Report Posted April 17, 2004 I am another Allen fan. I find her first album, *The Printmakers* as one of her best. A trio with Andrew Cyrille & Anthony Cox. One of the best free improvisation I have ever heard. Quote
marcoliv Posted April 18, 2004 Report Posted April 18, 2004 count me in as an Allen fan! there are still some BN's from her that i´m looking for too MCO Quote
B. Goren. Posted April 18, 2004 Report Posted April 18, 2004 (edited) Another great trio recording by Geri Allen is *Segments*, with Haden & Motian. During the 80's they collaborated frequently and this reissue is one of the results of their collaboration. A very impressive performance of *La Pasionaria* that you all know from the LMO recordings (The Ballad of the Fallen). If you consider yourself as Geri's fans you must listen to it. Edited April 18, 2004 by B. Goren. Quote
B. Goren. Posted April 20, 2004 Report Posted April 20, 2004 What I am looking for is Allen's recording with Woody Shaw for Blue Note: Bemsha Swing. Have you ever listened to this CD? Any opinion??? Quote
jazzbo Posted April 20, 2004 Author Report Posted April 20, 2004 Very good two cd set, well worth pursuing! Quote
Swinger Posted April 20, 2004 Report Posted April 20, 2004 Her trio album "Etudes" with Charlie Haden and Paul Motian is a really good one.They play a gorgeous version of Lonely Woman. Quote
Dave James Posted April 20, 2004 Report Posted April 20, 2004 One more thumb up for Geri Allen. As seems to happen from time to time, I'll get high centered on a particular artist for several weeks and try to accumulate as much of their recorded output as I can over the course of my "infatuation". In Allen's case, I was able to obtain all her Blue Note recordings which I find in a word, "enlightening". Highly recommeded. Up over and out. Quote
B. Goren. Posted April 20, 2004 Report Posted April 20, 2004 Very good two cd set, well worth pursuing! Thanks Jazzbo. Quote
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