vijay iyer (via fb):
I am totally blindsided and devastated by the death of Geri Allen. She was one of my greatest musical heroes; I’ve been obsessed with and influenced directly by her music for 30 years, like many other pianists in my generation and younger (particularly Craig Taborn, Jason Moran, Ethan Iverson, Courtney Bryan, and I daresay Orrin Evans & Kris Davis).
In the late 80s I was in awe of her originality. She brought a spare, elemental quality to her playing, conjuring elements of Ellington, Monk, Andrew Hill, and Herbie Nichols, and subsequently didn’t choose to channel the prevailing mainstream sound, which was more reminiscent of either Herbie Hancock or McCoy Tyner. (I totally copped as much of her sonic identity as I could.)
Her improvisations in that period were full of space, thought, and listening, as well as a certain liberatory quality; her groove was deep, her contrapuntal independence often shocking; her lines and voicings were fresh and unique, and she could really throw down. Back then I loved the trio with Haden & Motian– and I still do — but what really got me were Ralph Peterson Jrs „Triangular“ & „Volition“ or her own „Twylight“ with Tani Tabbal & Jaribu Shahid or her first record, „The Printmakers,“ with Andrew Cyrille & Anthony Cox
Best of all was her majestic early solo album, Home Grown– a complete classic. I remember when Jason Moranwanted to borrow my copy and I said I didn’t let out of my house. Finally I relented and loaned it to him for just one hour! He ran home, ripped it onto his drive, and brought it back to me.
In the 90s some people heard her work as heading more mainstream, but i just heard it as a trajectory of continued study and focus; she never lost her old ways, as was abundantly clear in her revelatory late 90s stint with Ornette Coleman (see the two Sound Museum albums). She studied and assimilated the musical languages of Hank Jones, Mary Lou Williams, McCoy Tyner, Bud Powell, Cecil Taylor, Alice Coltrane, and so many more.
In recent years Geri had taken a more direct role in my life, as a kind and generous colleague and caring friend. I was repeatedly touched to find that she had sought to include me on events, symposia, concerts, and conversations. We had a couple of chances to work together – once at the Stone in trio with Graham Haynes and another time in telematic multi-site performance with Jason. She would even drive me home every now and then from wherever we ran into each other, and she gave me her old red Rogers drum set, which I still have.
Geri was a powerful innovator in modern music and a visionary pianist. She was also a scholar and historian of African American music, a community organizer, an institution builder, a feminist, a deeply committed and big-hearted educator, and a quietly determined leader. As a musician she was a conduit for spiritual truths and healing energies.
This is a tremendous loss for all of us, and we will strive to uphold & honor her legacy.
Much love to all.
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