Onstage company
Documented collaborators
Geri Allen (June 12, 1957 – June 27, 2017) was a visionary pianist, composer, and educator who helped redefine modern jazz. Born in Pontiac, Michigan, and based in Philadelphia later in life, she built a career that fused post-bop with free jazz and African-inflected textures, earning her a place among the most influential voices in contemporary jazz. Allen is widely associated with the M-Base movement, a collective that emphasized rhythm, composition, and collective improvisation. Her work as a leader and co-leader showcased a rare ability to blend scholarship with soulful expression, making her an essential figure for students and fans alike.