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The Carr
Center
pays
tribute
and
remembers
jazz
great
Geri
Allen
The
World
Mourns
The Loss
Of A
Music
Legend
DETROIT
- The
world
has lost
a music
legend,
Geri
Allen,
the
Detroit
native
and Cass
Technical
High
School
graduate
who
reached
the
highest
pinnacle
of
international
distinction
as a
pianist,
bandleader,
educator
and role
model
for
other
musicians;
especially
female
jazz
artists.
Geri
Allen
became
Artistic
Director
of the
Carr
Center
in 2016.
To have
this
global
music
icon
accept
the
invitation
to be
the
first
artistic
director
is the
highest
honor
the Carr
Center
could
receive.
“The
Carr
Center
was
fortunate
to have
an
artist
of Geri
Allen’s
caliber
to be
its
first
Artistic
Director.
Bringing
her back
home to
Detroit
last
year is
unsurpassed
in terms
of what
it meant
to the
city she
loved
and that
loved
her,”
said
Center
president,
Oliver
Ragsdale.
Geri’s
vision
for the
Carr
Center
was
steeped
in her
passion
and
commitment
to arts
programming
excellence
that
would
continue
to build
the
organization
and its
connections
to the
communities
served.
As the
Carr
Center
Artistic
Director,
Geri
brought
French
percussionist
Mino
Cinelu
and
legendary
songstress
Dee Dee
Bridgewater
to
perform
showcasing
the
highest
caliber
of
international
and
national
artists
she
touched.
In
April,
she
brought
Brinae
Ali back
to
Michigan
for the
infusion
of tap
dance,
hip-hop
and
jazz.
This was
Geri’s
last
performance
for the
Carr
Center
and her
last
performance
in
Detroit.
Reflecting
on being
the
first
Artistic
Director
for the
Carr
Center,
Ms.
Allen
stated,
“I am
thrilled
to have
this
opportunity
to
partner
with the
Carr
Center,
a very
key
institution
that has
maintained
an
important
role in
accessing
our
cultural
history
in
Detroit.
It is
the only
institution
of its
kind in
the city
and it
has made
a
difference.”
Mark
Stryker,
music
critic
at the
Detroit
Free
Press,
1995-2016,
states,
“Geri’s
death is
devastating
news not
only for
her
family,
friends
and the
wider
jazz
community
but also
for
Detroit,
where
she was
revered
as a
contemporary
embodiment
of the
city's
rich
jazz
legacy
and a
musician
who took
extraordinary
pride in
her
local
roots.
She was
one of
the
first
and most
important
young
musicians
to come
up under
the wing
of
trumpeter
and
legendary
mentor
Marcus
Belgrave.
Geri
drew
strength
and
inspiration
from her
hometown
during
her
entire
career,
and just
last
year
took on
the role
of
artistic
director
of the
Carr
Center,
a
downtown
Detroit
arts
organization
that
primarily
champions
African-American
culture
and has
a strong
arts
education
program.
Geri saw
her
appointment
as
coming
full
circle,
a way
she
could
give
back to
the
community
that had
nurtured
her. It
gave
Detroiters
one more
reason
to love
her —
not that
anyone
here
needed
another
reason.”
“Geri
Allen,
will
always
be with
us. The
world-renowned
pianist,
educator
and
global
ambassador
of jazz
music
brought
her
creative
genius
to the
Carr
Center.
She will
continue
to have
a
tremendous
impact
and
influence
on the
work of
the Carr
Center.
Her
music,
teachings
and
passion
for the
arts and
people
will be
shared
for
generations.
Our
prayers
are with
her
family,"
said
Ragsdale.
Remembering
Jazz
Legend
Geri
Allen
University
of
Michigan
Students
Reflect
on
Professor
Allen:
“This
loss
comes as
a great
shock.
Professor
Allen
left an
indelible
impact
on
Detroit
and the
jazz
community
at
large.
She
brought
her
nurturing
presence
to all
of her
students.
I and
many
others
are
grateful
to have
learned
from
such a
legend.”
Michael
Malis
“Geri
Allen
was not
only a
musical
pioneer
of the
highest
order
but an
incredibly
nurturing,
supportive,
and
attentive
teacher
and
mentor.
She will
continue
to be a
central
role
model
for me
as a
musician
and
scholar
but more
importantly
as a
human
being.”
Glenn
Tucker
“Professor
Allen
was an
enormously
influential
and
nurturing
teacher
as well
as an
amazing
performer.
It was
always a
blessing
to hear
her play
as well
as learn
from her
for five
years.
She
helped
students
find
their
own
individual
creative
paths by
studying
the
masters
that
came
before
us.”
Ian
Finkelstein
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