Open on All Sides in the Middle explained

Open on All Sides in the Middle
Type:	Album
Artist:	Geri Allen
Cover:	Open on All Sides in the Middle.jpg
Released:	December 1987
Recorded:	December 1986
Studio:	Sound Suite Recording Studio, Detroit
Genre:	Jazz
Length:	43:47
Label:	Minor Music MM 1013
Producer:	Geri Allen
Chronology:	Geri Allen
Prev Title:	Home Grown
Prev Year:	1985
Next Title:	Twylight
Next Year:	1989

Open on All Sides in the Middle is an album by pianist Geri Allen recorded in late 1986 and released on the German Minor Music label.^[1]

Reception

Allmusic reviewer Scott Yanow stated: "the material is comparatively lightweight for a Geri Allen recording, often only bordering on jazz".^[2] The Penguin Guide to Jazz described the album as an attempt to create "some new kind of song-based jazz", but labelled it "dire".

Track listing

All compositions by Geri Allen

1. "Open on All Sides / The Glide Was in the Ride..." - 6:45
2. "Forbidden Place" - 4:24
3. "The Dancer" - 2:33
4. "In the Middle" - 4:01
5. "Ray" - 4:17
6. "I Sang a Bright Green Tear for All of Us This Year..." - 12:46
7. "Drummer's Song" - 2:24
8. "In the Morning" - 5:03
9. "The Dancer Part 2" 1:34

Personnel

• Geri Allen - piano, keyboards, backing vocals
• Rayse Biggs - trumpet, flugelhorn
• Robin Eubanks - trombone
• David McMurray - soprano saxophone, flute
• Steve Coleman - alto saxophone
  • Jaribu Shahid - bass Tani Tabbal - drums
• Shahida Nurullah - lead vocals
• Marcus Belgrave - flugelhorn (track 8)
• Mino Cinelu - cymbals, bells, congas, timbales, electronic drums, udu
• Lloyd Storey - tap dance

Notes and References

1. http://www.jazzdisco.org/geri-allen/catalog/#minor-music-mm-1013 Geri Allen catalog
2. Yanow, S., Allmusic Review, accessed July 3, 2014.