Jazz Articles about Tony Allen

About Tony Allen

Album Review

Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad's Jazz Is Dead continues its mission “to exalt the legacies of iconic musicians who have shaped the fabric of jazz across generations, genres and continents." The label's summer 2023 album features the late great Tony Allen. Jazz Is Dead 18 presents the Nigerian jazz and Afrobeat drum legend, who passed in 2020, alongside multi-instrumentalist Younge and an eight-piece horn section. It is gritty, elemental stuff and should ring the bell of most, if not ...

Album Review

Tony Allen & Hugh Masekela: Rejoice

by Chris May
June 12, 2020

"Unfinished" is the kindest word to describe this album, recorded in 2010 and left on the shelf until its release was prompted after Hugh Masekela passed in 2018. It should have stayed on the shelf. The album consists of eight tracks of noodling by Masekela, accompanied by autopilot timekeeping from Tony Allen, who passed a few weeks after the album was finally released in spring 2020. Masekela and Allen had recorded the tracks unaccompanied and on the ...

Radio & Podcasts

A tribute to Tony Allen plus some new releases

by Bob Osborne
May 28, 2020

This week a tribute to the great Nigeria drummer, percussionist and songwriter Tony Allen. One of the main collaborators, and musical director, of Fela Kuti's band Africa '70 from 1968 to 1979, he was a central figure in Afrobeat music. In later years he embraced a variety of musical styles, developed “Afrofunk" and worked with a number of contemporary artists. Also on the show: the debut album from vocalist/saxophonist Sanja Markovic, the first solo recordings by Tim Berne, ...

Radio & Podcasts

Tony Allen, Hugh Masekela, Luciana Souza, Dave Douglas & Other New Releases

by Ludovico Granvassu
May 9, 2020

We may be in lock-down mode but oustading jazz releases keep coming out as if nothing were of the COVID and the social distancing, bringing us much needed relief. One more reason to pay tribute to today's artists and to encourage everyone to support the music scene by purchasing music directly from the musicians and labels that make them. An hour of incredible collaborations, music for the dreamworld and from some of today's best trumpet players.

Live Review

Tony Allen, Jeff Mills and Jean Philippe Dary at Cologne Philharmonie

by Phillip Woolever
May 30, 2019

Tony Allen, Jeff Mills and Jean Philippe Dary Cologne Philharmonie Eight Bridges Festival Cologne, Germany May 11, 2019 The Eight Bridges Festival is an eclectic mix of provocative presentations taking place throughout Cologne. Concerts, dance and drama occur on typical stages or in unique urban locations. Spectators enjoy bands, choirs, youth groups and wide ranging themes from architecture to skateboard sounds. During this year's ninth edition, bopping brass could be heard in academic ...

Live Review

Udin&Jazz 2018

by Neri Pollastri
July 19, 2018

Udin&Jazz 2018 Udine Palamostre 3-6.7.2018 Ventottesima edizione per il festival friulano, con qualche ombra sul suo futuro conseguente alla presa di posizione del direttore artistico e organizzatore Giancarlo Velliscig (clicca qui per leggere la sua intervista prima della scorsa edizione) nei confronti della nuova amministrazione comunale. Nel frattempo anche quest'anno il programma è risultato stimolante e non privo di alcune “perle." Dopo il consuetudinario prologo nella provincia (la cantante Barbara Errico a Tricesimo ...

Album Review

Tony Allen: The Source

Read "The Source" reviewed by Mark Sullivan

by Mark Sullivan
September 26, 2017

Drummer and Afrobeat pioneer Tony Allen returns to his jazz roots for his first full-length Blue Note album, following the EP A Tribute to Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. The Art Blakey arrangements married hard bop with an Afrobeat rhythmic sensibility: here the same approach is taken with original material (most of it composed and arranged by Allen and saxophonist Yann Jankielewicz). It's a big sound: a rhythm section with drums, bass, keyboards and guitar joined by five horns. ...