Articles

A tribute to Tony Allen plus some new releases

By Bob Osborne

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, ...

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

By Ludovico Granvassu

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.

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

By Phillip Woolever

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 ...

Tony Allen: The Source

By Mark Sullivan

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. ...

Tony Allen: A Tribute to Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers

By Mark Sullivan

Legendary Nigerian drummer Tony Allen is an Afrobeat pioneer best known for his tenure as musical director for Fela Kuti. American jazz was an early influence, and he pays tribute to hard bop icon drummer Art Blakey and his band Jazz Messengers here. In a way this is full circle, as Blakey was greatly influenced by African music. In the late 1940s he visited West Africa, and recorded several albums reflecting that experience, including Orgy in Rhythm (Blue Note, 1957), ...

Tony Allen: An Autobiography Of The Master Drummer Of Afrobeat

By Chris Becker

Tony Allen: An Autobiography Of The Master Drummer Of Afrobeat Michael Veal ISBN: 978-0-8223-5591-5 Duke University Press 2013 First of all, drummers are going to love this book. With so few autobiographies of drummers in print, the publication of Tony Allen: An Autobiography of the Master Drummer of Afrobeat is a cause for celebration. Co-author Michael Veal, author of Fela: The Life and Times of a Musical Icon and an accomplished musician ...

Tony Allen: Secret Agent

By Chris May

Tony Allen Secret Agent World Circuit 2009

It's been a good six months for Afrobeat, the turbulent jazz meets funk meets West African roots music associated with the Nigerian singer Fela Anikulapo Kuti (1938 - 1997) and his bands Afrika 70 and Egypt 80. There have been cracking albums from, first, Fela's son Seun, and now Afrika 70 founder member Tony Allen.

When Kuti died, it seemed for a while ...