Geri Allen
Geri Allen is the quintessence of what today’s mainstream musician should be. Well versed in a variety of modern jazz styles, from bop to free, Allen steers a middle course in her own music, speaking in a cultivated and moderately distinctive voice, respectful of, but not overly impressed with conservatism. Allen plays with a spontaneity and melodic gift that greatly transcends rote imitation. Her improvisational style is at various times spacious and dense, rubato and swinging, blithe and percussive. She has a genuinely expressive, personal voice; her music an amalgam honestly conceived, intelligently accessible and well within the bounds of what is popularly expected from a jazz musician of her generation.

Odean Pope Saxophone Choir
Fiery post-bop tenor saxophonist Odean Pope got his start in the pit band of Philadelphia’s Uptown Theater, playing backup for people like Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and Aretha Franklin. But when John Coltrane asked him to sub for him in the Jimmy Smith trio, his jazz chops came to the fore. Pope is perhaps most famous for his long association with legendary drummer Max Roach, a collaboration which helped the saxophonist evolve his propulsive style. His mastery of circular breathing and multiphonics allows his to create unique improvisations and explore far-flung sonic possibilities before returning to earth with a solid swing sensibility. Pope will be appearing with his Saxophone Orchestra, a group consisting of nine saxophones and a rhythm section. Explosive creativity is sure to result.

John Hicks Trio featuring David "Fathead" Newman
Pianist John Hicks has been a vital part of the international jazz scene since the early 1960s. A veteran of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, Betty Carter’s backing band and the Woody Herman Big Band, his style incorporates blues, swing, hard bop and free jazz. In addition to critically acclaimed trio, big band and duet recordings, he is a prolific sideman, recording with Sonny Rollins, Freddie Hubbard, Frank Foster, Roy Haynes, Sonny Stitt and many others. In each case, his playing is sheer improvisatory brilliance. For his performance at this year’s Charlie Parker Jazz Festival, Hicks will be joined on stage by legendary sax-man and Ray Charles associate David “Fathead” Newman. Hicks played on Newman’s recent tribute to his late boss I Remember Brother Ray on High Note Records.

Cindy Blackman Quartet
Touted as one of the top drummers in the world, Cindy Blackman has been hailed by Mike Zwerin of the International Herald Tribune as having, “…extraordinary finesse…obviously exceptional…Some drummers act, some react. Some keep time, others create it. Cindy Blackman is among the few who can.” She is a solid, dependable drummer who can easily move from straight-ahead jazz to rock to funk and back again. From her beginnings as a New York street performer, Blackman’s rising star has been seen by millions of people all over the world performing with her own group as well as providing the percussive backbone for retro funk rocker Lenny Kravitz. A force in her own right, Blackman puts the heart and soul of her music above all else. A true artist, she plays for the moment as if she’s directly inside each note, playing each beat as if it were a melody.

Marcus Garvey Park, August 27, 2005