All About Jazz

Tony Allen: Lagos No Shaking

By CHRIS MAY
February 20, 2006
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More than any other member of Fela Anikulapo Kuti's early bands, drummer Tony Allen can be said to have co-invented Afrobeat. Kuti provided the funk/jazz/Yoruba folk music themes and arrangements—plus the trademark insurrectionary lyrics and, crucially in the face of vicious and ongoing state attempts to silence the band, the leadership. (The buck sure enough stopped with Kuti, a man of extraordinary integrity and courage.) Allen provided that unique Afrobeat rhythm—a majestic, straight to your feet, loose-limbed but heavy shuffle.

Track Listing

Ise Nla; Morose; Aye Le; Losun; One Tree; Ole; Kilode; Awa Na Re; Ogogoro; Moyege; Obe Du.

Personnel

Biodun Adebiyi: trumpet; Muritala Adisa: rap (7), oja, backing vocals; Olufesobi Afolabi: trumpet; Tony Allen: drums; Lekan Animashaun (aka Baba Ani): tenor saxophone; Larry Azuka: backing vocals; Yinka Davies: lead (2,4,7,9) and backing vocals; Elizabeth Dooga: backing vocals; Kana Eke: backing vocals; Oscar Elimbi: guitar: Joanne Emi: backing vocals; Rilwan Faqbeni (aka Show Boy): baritone saxophone; Fred Fisher: trombone; Iyabo Ganiyu: backing vocals; Omololu Ogunleye: keyboards, lead (5,9,10) and backing vocals; Deolu Ogunsanya: tenor saxophone; Yinka Ogunye: percussion, backing vocals; Onyeka Okorie: bass guitar, backing vocals; Olagunju Fatai Olayiwola (aka Fatai Rolling Dollar): lead vocals (1,3,6,8), agidigbo, saw.