Tony Allen, the drum innovator, the supercool, and at times even casual, drummer extraordinaire who was always trying new things and collaborations, has passed away in Paris. Tony Allen was the drummer for and musical director of Fela Kuti's band Africa 70 from 1968 to 1979, and was one of the primary co- founders of the genre known as Afrobeat. Fela Kuti once said that "without Tony Allen, there would be no Afrobeat.” Allen would also go on to collaborate with a worldwide roster of artists from Malian singers to Brazilian expermentalists, American poets and DJs like Carl Hancock Rux and Jeff Mills, to Blur’s Damon Albarn, and have a 1978 drumoff with Ginger Baker. In recent years, he recorded a tribute to jazz drummer Art Blakey and in 2020, released a collaboration with the South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela. His discography is so vast, and his recording credits many, but here are just two records chosen to frame this titan.
Jealousy. As one drummer admiring another, this 1975 record from Tony Allen and Africa 70 is perfectly titled. It was the first one released under Allen’s name, and features Fela Kuti’s sax. It’s got just enough swing to those hot disco-adjacent Afrobeats to anchor an hours-long set. It’s unbelievable how Allen could just stay on it, enviably relaxed, leaning into the beats he invented. He was the master of all of his limbs with mad independence skills; he could turn the drummer up or down - in complete control of his dynamic level; and he was always driving that party bus. His beats had a certain identifiable “don’t you wanna shake that booty / body” feeling to them, no matter how much red-hot speed he might imply by splitting hits between his snare, toms, and kick drum; no matter how many subdivisions he might somehow slip in there; no matter how slow and sultry; no matter how infuriating to other drummers who might want to learn or imitate his hi-hat control (both hand patterns and foot closures): the guy was always grooving.
Rejoice. On what might be his last release, with the late South African giant Hugh Masekela, this groove and understated swagger is omnipresent. There’s also a never-ending “I invite you to dance all night” vibe even as he creates space for his fellow bandmates. The instantly recognizable Tony Allen drum-fills punctuate and complete the trumpet melodies and group-chant vocals; impossible bounces and crisp rolls on the snare combine with his precise and never over-the-top tom attacks, which are always tastefully deployed. And then just as quickly, it’s back to his relentless and ever-varying hi-hat, snare and quick kick patterns. A master has left the planet. He is the afterlife’s gain. As one of the tracks on this last record puts it, “Rejoice, Here Comes Tony.” - Caryn Havlik
Revisit this Soundcheck Podcast from 2011, featuring in-studio performances by Tony Allen.
Here's a New Sounds Guide to Tony Allen:
