Geri Allen and Wallace Roney to Release CDs in ’04

After six years of silence (as a leader, anyway), pianist Geri Allen has signed an exclusive contract with Telarc and will release a new studio album in August 2004. It will be Allen’s first studio effort since 1998’s Gathering (Verve). We’ve been told that she’ll enter a New York City studio in January with a stack of new compositions and the talents of bassist Dave Holland and drummer Jack DeJohnette. No other names have been dropped by any of our trusty jazz news informants, so we’re assuming this will be a piano trio recording. The album doesn’t have a working title yet, but Telarc confirms that its release date is August 24, 2004.

Perhaps we won’t have to wait as long to hear Allen’s husband’s next album. Mr. Allen, er, trumpeter Wallace Roney, hasn’t put out an album since 2000’s wonderful No Room for Argument (Concord). High Note has signed Roney for at least one record, which will be released this spring, possibly in May. We’re without info on sidemen and song choice, but Roney is set to record the album in January at Rudy Van Gelder’s studio. (That doesn’t mean Van Gelder will be manning the controls, however.)

Originally Published January 2, 2004