WORKSHOP AND CONCERT - WARM AND LOVING EVENTS


Workshop barely describes what took place at the Afro American Music Institute in the Homewood section of Pittsburgh, Pa. on May 5, 2007. The Institute was founded by Dr. James T. Johnson (who is himself a pianist) and his wife Pamela Johnson. On this Saturday in question, GERI ALLEN, who lived in Pittsburgh for a period of five years while studying at
The University of Pittsburgh where she received a Master's Degree in Ethnomusicology, returned to this city and spent five hours with fifty children ranging in age from 7 to 20.
She was warmly introduced by Dr. Johnson and then proceeded to play with Kenny Davis on bass and Andrew Cyrille, the master drummer. After playing, they each spoke about music. Mr. Cyrille and Ms. Allen spoke about Mary Lou Williams .

The children asked many questions and answered the question "What is Jazz?" in expressive and heartfelt ways. Then some of them were invited to play. And they did - there were three separate pianists, two of them twin sisters, two young singers - one of whom had a manner of scatting that is original and the like of which I have never heard before. There were also two fine young drummers.

This is a thriving community center for Afro American music and Culture. After the master
class, the trio conducted an open rehearsal of "Zodiac Suite" which Mary Lou Williams composed in 1945. The afternoon concluded with good food and the kind of warmth which can only be described by such words as "love" and "family. Ms. Allen's three children (Laila - Wallace Roney IV - and Barbara) had traveled with her and Mary Lou Williams' sisters, Geraldine and Marge, and her niece Bobbie Ann with other members of her family were there.

GERI ALLEN with her Trio appeared in concert on the following day at The Kelly-Strayhorn Theatre in the East Liberty section of Pittsburgh. This is the part of Pittsburgh in which Mary Lou grew up. The theatre is named for Gene Kelly and Billy Strayhorn, native Pittsburghers. "Zodiac Suite" was played for the first half of the concert. After intermission, Ms. Allen played selections from her new Telarc CD "Timeless Portraits and Dreams.