 |
|
The UK's Biggest Selling Jazz Magazine 
|
| Tony Allen - Secret Agent **** |
| Thursday, 16 July 2009 12:26 | |||||||
|
World Circuit Records WCD082 | Tony Allen (v, d, p), Rody Ceeyon (b), Claude Dibongue (g), Fixi (p, acc, tb, backing v), Niclaus Giraud (t), Jean Jacques Elangue (ts), Yann Jankielwicz (s), Simon Andrieux (tb), Yinka Ogunye (perc) and vocalists. Rec. 2009 Tony Allen is a man with mystique. Cloaked, invariably, in aviator sunglasses, saying little but achieving much, the diminutive Nigerian has accrued the sort of iconic status usually reserved for those who have departed this mortal coil – a legacy, in part, of his work with Afrobeat originator and thorn-in-the-side of Nigeria’s corrupt government, the late great Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Together Allen and Kuti developed a sound that fused jazz, funk and highlife with African rhythm; a big band sound powered by Kuti’s insurrectionary stance and harddriving saxophone and Allen’s extraordinary four-limbed drum technique. Inspired by jazz drummers and local highlife rhythms alike, Allen was always more about the music than the politics. But since leaving Fela’s band in the early-1980s and going on to release the must-have No Discrimination he has carved out his own maverick identity (the template for which lay in a series of side-projects throughout the 1970s), blending riffs and choruses, rhythms and genres to enticing, rather refined effect. So after a leftfield foray as co-founder (with Damon Albarn) of The Good, The Bad and The Queen, Allen is back with a slice of hardcore Afrobeat that sees him revelling in his unmistakable groove. Recorded in Nigeria and Allen’s hometown Paris this is naija music to the core, pulsing with raw energy and propelled along by a cast of largely unknown singers and musicians from deep within the Lagos community. Songs take their cue from traditional Yoruba proverbs and Afrobeat’s trademark rabble-rousing: the single ‘Elewon Po’ (‘Too Many Prisoners’) is possibly the most upbeat protest song you’ll hear all year. Allen presides over them all, singing little but drumming it large; head down and ears wide open. Jane Cornwell
Only registered users can write comments!
Powered by !JoomlaComment 3.26
3.26 Copyright (C) 2008 Compojoom.com / Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."
|
news
features
features
features
reviews
UK Jazz Venues
Pizza Express Jazz Club London (1871)
Vortex Jazz Club London (1664)
606 Club London (1609)
Ronnie Scotts London (1597)
Hideaway Streatham (350)
Swansea Jazzland Swansea (316)
Matt & Phred's Jazz Club Manchester (242)
Pizza on the Park London (237)
St Ives Jazz Club St Ives (219)
Wakefield Sports Club Wakefield (188)
Barbican Hall London (171)
Komedia Studio Bar Brighton (165)
Friends Life Social Club Dorking (151)
The Spin Oxford (125)
Seven Arts Leeds Leeds (115)
Octave Bar London (107)
Charlie Wright's London (105)
The Stables Theatre Wavendon (101)
Symphony Hall Foyer Birmingham (100)
The Sage Gateshead (95)
Cafe Oto London (93)
Purcell Room London (90)
Watermill Jazz Dorking (86)
Matt & Phred's Manchester (83)
The Dysart Arms Surrey (74)
The Oxford Pub London (74)
The Sands Venue Gainsborough (72)
The Bell Hotel Clare (67)
Cheltenham Town Hall Cheltenham (66)
Boisdale's Canary Wharf (64)
Millennium Hall Sheffield (62)
National Theatre Foyer South Bank SE1 (61)
The Forge London (55)
Band on the Wall Manchester (54)
The Jazz Bar Edinburgh (54)
Spice Of Life London (53)
Jagz Ascot (51)
Orange Street Music Club Canterbury (51)
Joogleberry Playhouse Brighton (50)
Turner Sims Hall Southampton (49)
The Beaver Inn Appledore (48)
Royal Festival Hall London (47)
Queen Elizabeth Hall (47)
Queen Elizabeth Hall London (46)
Lauderdale House Waterlow Park London (45)
Villandry Bar London (44)
Kings Place London (44)
Leeds College of Music Leeds (44)
Bonington Theatre Nottingham (44)
Jazz Café London (42)
Vortex Jazz Club London (1664)
606 Club London (1609)
Ronnie Scotts London (1597)
Hideaway Streatham (350)
Swansea Jazzland Swansea (316)
Matt & Phred's Jazz Club Manchester (242)
Pizza on the Park London (237)
St Ives Jazz Club St Ives (219)
Wakefield Sports Club Wakefield (188)
Barbican Hall London (171)
Komedia Studio Bar Brighton (165)
Friends Life Social Club Dorking (151)
The Spin Oxford (125)
Seven Arts Leeds Leeds (115)
Octave Bar London (107)
Charlie Wright's London (105)
The Stables Theatre Wavendon (101)
Symphony Hall Foyer Birmingham (100)
The Sage Gateshead (95)
Cafe Oto London (93)
Purcell Room London (90)
Watermill Jazz Dorking (86)
Matt & Phred's Manchester (83)
The Dysart Arms Surrey (74)
The Oxford Pub London (74)
The Sands Venue Gainsborough (72)
The Bell Hotel Clare (67)
Cheltenham Town Hall Cheltenham (66)
Boisdale's Canary Wharf (64)
Millennium Hall Sheffield (62)
National Theatre Foyer South Bank SE1 (61)
The Forge London (55)
Band on the Wall Manchester (54)
The Jazz Bar Edinburgh (54)
Spice Of Life London (53)
Jagz Ascot (51)
Orange Street Music Club Canterbury (51)
Joogleberry Playhouse Brighton (50)
Turner Sims Hall Southampton (49)
The Beaver Inn Appledore (48)
Royal Festival Hall London (47)
Queen Elizabeth Hall (47)
Queen Elizabeth Hall London (46)
Lauderdale House Waterlow Park London (45)
Villandry Bar London (44)
Kings Place London (44)
Leeds College of Music Leeds (44)
Bonington Theatre Nottingham (44)
Jazz Café London (42)
Jazzwise magazine - digital edition
Jazzwise Branded App
Live Twitter Feed
2012 Parliamentary Jazz Awards
WORK EXPERIENCE
Jazzwise Intern Opportunities
Jazzwise E-newsletter
instrument guide
recommended jazz gigs
See all the UK's hottest jazz gigs here
Abram Wilson, featuring Jason Marsalis and Myrna Hague A New Orleans Christmas Kings Place Friday 17th December 2011
Archie Shepp – Thursday 17 November, London Jazz Festival
Phronesis – Pitch Black – Weds 16 November
McCoy Tyner – Barbican Hall, Saturday 12 November
Magnus Ostrum Band – The Camp Basement, London, 17 November
Archie Shepp – Thursday 17 November, London Jazz Festival
Phronesis – Pitch Black – Weds 16 November
McCoy Tyner – Barbican Hall, Saturday 12 November
Magnus Ostrum Band – The Camp Basement, London, 17 November