Home » Jazz Musicians » Tony Allen

Tony Allen

Tony Oladipo Allen (born in Lagos, Nigeria) is a Nigerian drummer, composer and songwriter who currently lives and works in Paris. His career and life story have been documented in his 2013 autobiography Tony Allen: Master Drummer of Afrobeat, co-written with author/musician Michael E. Veal who previously wrote a comprehensive biography of Fela Kuti.

As drummer and musical director of Fela Anikulapo Kuti's band Africa 70 from 1968 to 1979, Allen was one of the primary co-founders of the genre of Afrobeat music. Fela once stated that, "without Tony Allen, there would be no Afrobeat." He has also been described by Brian Eno as "perhaps the greatest drummer who has ever lived.

A self-taught musician, Allen began to play drum-kit at the age of eighteen, while working as an engineer for a Nigerian radio station. Allen was influenced by music his father listened to (Juju, traditional Yoruba ceremonial music), but also American jazz, and the growing highlife scene in Nigeria and Ghana. Allen worked hard to develop a unique voice on the drums – feverishly studying LPs and magazine articles by Max Roach and Art Blakey, but also revolutionary Ghanaian drummer Guy Warren (now Kofi Ghanaba – who developed a highly sought sound that mixed tribal Ghanaian drumming with bop – working with Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, and Max Roach).

Allen was hired by 'Sir' Victor Olaiya to play claves with his highlife band, "the Cool Cats". Tony was able to fill the drum-set chair when the former Cool Cats drummer left the band. Allen later played with Agu Norris and the Heatwaves, the Nigerian Messengers and the Melody Makers.

n 1964, Fela Ransome Kuti invited Allen to audition for a jazz-highlife band he was forming. Kuti and Allen had played together as sidemen in the Lagos circuit. Fela complimented Allen's unique sound: "How come you are the only guy in Nigeria who plays like this – jazz and highlife?" Thus Allen became an original member of Kuti's "Koola Lobitos" highlife-jazz band.

In 1969, following a turbulent and educational trip to the United States, Fela and the newly renamed Africa '70 band developed a new militant African sound- mixing the heavy groove and universal appeal of soul with jazz, highlife, and the polyrhythmic template of Yoruba conventions. Allen developed a novel style to complement Fela's new African groove that blended these disparate genres.

Allen recounts how Fela and he wrote in 1970: "Fela used to write out the parts for all the musicians in the band (Africa '70). I was the only one who originated the music I played. Fela would ask what type of rhythm I wanted to play… You can tell a good drummer because we… have four limbs… and they are… playing different things… the patterns don't just come from Yoruba… [but] other parts of Nigeria and Africa."

Read more

Tags

7
Album Review

Tony Allen: Jazz Is Dead 18

Read "Jazz Is Dead 18" reviewed by Chris May


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 ...

25
Album Review

Tony Allen & Hugh Masekela: Rejoice

Read "Rejoice" reviewed by Chris May


"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 ...

1
Radio & Podcasts

A tribute to Tony Allen plus some new releases

Read "A tribute to Tony Allen plus some new releases" reviewed 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, ...

2
Radio & Podcasts

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

Read "Tony Allen, Hugh Masekela, Luciana Souza, Dave Douglas & Other New Releases" reviewed 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.

3
Live Review

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

Read "Tony Allen, Jeff Mills and Jean Philippe Dary at Cologne Philharmonie" reviewed 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 ...

Live Review

Udin&Jazz 2018

Read "Udin&Jazz 2018" reviewed by Neri Pollastri


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 ...

16
Album Review

Tony Allen: The Source

Read "The Source" reviewed 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. ...

Read more articles
143

Recording

Afrobeat Legend Tony Allen New Album Hits 01/12

Afrobeat Legend Tony Allen New Album Hits 01/12

Source: JamBase

NIGERIAN AFROBEAT LEGEND TONY ALLEN'S WORLD CIRCUIT/NONESUCH DEBUT SECRET AGENT TO BE RELEASED JANUARY 12 “At nearly 70 the man Brian Eno reckons is perhaps the greatest drummer that ever lived is reveling in his heritage, and it's contagious." Q Tony Allen best known for his work as drummer and musical director for Fela Anikulapo Kuti, one of Africa's most influential artists makes his World Circuit/Nonesuch debut with Secret Agent, January 12. Following its European release earlier this year, Secret ...

143

Event

Tony Allen, Victoria Williams to Join Damon Albarn & the Honest Jon's Revue July 12

Tony Allen, Victoria Williams to Join Damon Albarn & the Honest Jon's Revue July 12

Source: All About Jazz

African drummer Tony Allen and southern singer/songwriter Victoria Williams to join Damon Albarn & The Honest Jon's Revue Saturday, July 12

Featuring Afel Bocoum, Kokanko Sata, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Lobi Traore, Simone White, Candi Stanton, Tony Allen, Victoria Williams and Damon Albarn

One performance: Saturday, July 12 at 8 p.m. Running time: approximately 2 hours, no intermission Avery Fisher Hall, Broadway at 64th Street Tickets: $30, 40, 50

Lincoln Center Festival 08 will present ...

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Jazz Is Dead 18

Jazz Is Dead
2023

buy

Rejoice

World Circuit
2020

buy

A Tribute to Art...

Blue Note Records
2017

buy

The Source

Blue Note Records
2017

buy

Secret Agent

Curly Music Productions
2009

buy

Don't Believe the Dancers

From: Jazz Is Dead 18
By Tony Allen

Videos

Similar

Roy Ayers
vibraphone
Nomo
band / ensemble / orchestra
Budos Band
band / ensemble / orchestra
Oneness of Juju
band / ensemble / orchestra
Fela Kuti
saxophone
Seun Kuti
saxophone

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.