Probably the biggest gift one could give to another is exposure to something new.
For award-winning jazz pianist and composer Gerri Allen, sharing her gift of music with students is something that can enlighten their young minds by exposing them to a broader sense of cultural understanding.
“My idea is that every time we do a major performance, we do a public outreach," said Allen, a Montclair resident with three children attending Montclair schools.
The beginning of Allen's reaching out to the future leaders of America will begin next Tuesday, Feb. 27, when Allen performs for Hillside Elementary School students.
The event, which is closed to the public, will allow students to experience a live jazz concert. Allen will perform songs from her CD, “Timeless Portraits and Dreams," which was released last August.
“It could give our young people a huge sense of pride by knowing that jazz is celebrated in this world. It has affected music of every culture, and I think we need to have a sense of that at home and our young people can benefit," Allen said.
Allen is joined on “Timeless Portraits and Dreams" by bassist Ron Carter and drummer Jimmy Cobb. Special guests include vocalists Carmen Lundy and George Shirley, who was the first African-American tenor to sing at the Metropolitan Opera; trumpeter Wallace Roney, to whom she is married; tenor saxophonist Donald Walden, and the Atlanta Jazz Chorus.
During Allen's performance at Hillside, the school concert will include a montage of photos to be presented onscreen as Allen performs.
Allen said she will be joined during her performance by her husband, Roney; Jimmy Cobb, who is the last living member of Miles Davis' acclaimed “Kind of Blue" sessions; tap dancer Maurice Chestnut, and actor/comedian Greg Holts, who will serve as a narrator for Allen's performance.
For award-winning jazz pianist and composer Gerri Allen, sharing her gift of music with students is something that can enlighten their young minds by exposing them to a broader sense of cultural understanding.
“My idea is that every time we do a major performance, we do a public outreach," said Allen, a Montclair resident with three children attending Montclair schools.
The beginning of Allen's reaching out to the future leaders of America will begin next Tuesday, Feb. 27, when Allen performs for Hillside Elementary School students.
The event, which is closed to the public, will allow students to experience a live jazz concert. Allen will perform songs from her CD, “Timeless Portraits and Dreams," which was released last August.
“It could give our young people a huge sense of pride by knowing that jazz is celebrated in this world. It has affected music of every culture, and I think we need to have a sense of that at home and our young people can benefit," Allen said.
Allen is joined on “Timeless Portraits and Dreams" by bassist Ron Carter and drummer Jimmy Cobb. Special guests include vocalists Carmen Lundy and George Shirley, who was the first African-American tenor to sing at the Metropolitan Opera; trumpeter Wallace Roney, to whom she is married; tenor saxophonist Donald Walden, and the Atlanta Jazz Chorus.
During Allen's performance at Hillside, the school concert will include a montage of photos to be presented onscreen as Allen performs.
Allen said she will be joined during her performance by her husband, Roney; Jimmy Cobb, who is the last living member of Miles Davis' acclaimed “Kind of Blue" sessions; tap dancer Maurice Chestnut, and actor/comedian Greg Holts, who will serve as a narrator for Allen's performance.
For more information contact All About Jazz.
