Born in the late '50s, pianist Geri Allen was of the generation of jazz musicians whose scope of influences was all-inclusive. Like contemporaries Greg Osby and Steve Coleman, those influences include not only mainstream jazz but world music, funk, pop, rock, and free jazz. Allen learned her lessons via legendary trumpeter/teacher Marcus Belgrave, piano icon Kenny Barron, and the University of Pittsburgh. While discs under her leadership ranged from hard bop to avant-garde, Allen was also a noteworthy collaborator, engaging in electric jazz with Brooklyn's M-Base crew (including Osby and Coleman), vocal jazz with Betty Carter, and trios with Charlie Haden, Paul Motian, and even innovator Ornette Coleman. Allen died of cancer in 2017 at the age of 60.