[2] "Her father, Mount Allen Jr, was a school principal, her mother, Barbara, a government administrator in the defence industry.

[5] She then continued her studies: with pianist Kenny Barron in New York;[3] and at the University of Pittsburgh, where she completed a master's degree in ethnomusicology in 1982.

[2] This trio album, with bassist Anthony Cox and drummer Andrew Cyrille, also featured some of Allen's compositions.

[5] In 2006, Allen composed "For the Healing of the Nations", a suite written in tribute to the victims and survivors of the September 11 attacks.

[7] Main sources:[15][16] Main source:[19] With Franco Ambrosetti With The Batson Brothers With Betty Carter With Ornette Coleman With Steve Coleman With Charlie Haden With Oliver Lake With Charles Lloyd With Wallace Roney With Trio 3 (Oliver Lake, Reggie Workman & Andrew Cyrille) With others