This year marks the 50th anniversary of Nigerian drummer Tony Allen's debut with pioneering Afrobeat master Fela Kuti. Allen played with Fela's band Africa 70 as drummer and musical director until 1979. Mention Afrobeat and Fela's name immediately pops up but without the fantastic drumming skills and funky mentality of Allen, Fela's music would not have reached the heights it did during this period; something Fela was quick to acknowledge.
Tony Allen's latest album, Film Of Life.
It's been 35 years since Allen left Africa 70 to forge a solo career during which he has released and performed with jazz, rock and funk musicians. Last year he released an autobiography and this year a biopic on Fela's life coincides with a new release by Allen, Film Of Life. With so much attention on Afrobeat, perhaps Allen's key role in the development of the genre will at last be celebrated.
Judging from the tracks I've heard from the new album, Allen has whipped up an Afrobeat stew that includes ethnic grooves, jazz and funk that represent his extraordinarily rich and varied musical background. Perhaps his return to a familiar Paris recording studio has done the trick but pundits are hailing this as his best album for a long time. Film Of Life has quickly shot up the European Broadcast Union World Music chart for November to reach the No.2 spot. One to look out for. Allen also produced the album at No.8, African Woman by Sia Tolno.
Riding in top spot in the charts is Aurelio Martinez with his album Landini. The Honduran musician performs music from the Garifuna people of Honduras and Belize. Since Andy Palacio passed away a few years ago, he's been the sole Garifuna musician performing internationally. This new album sees him return to his roots in Central American village life to the rhythms and dances he grew up with; some of his songs are deeply melancholic, while others which celebrate the Punta style championed by Palacio are foot-tapping up-tempo dance numbers.
Ricardo Lemvo's La Rumba Soyo rounds out the top three. Lemvo is something of a unique musician; he was born in Angola but brought up near the Congo border and is now based in the US. His music is a mix of Congo and mainly Latin music, with dashes of the Caribbean thrown into the mix. The result is irresistible dance music. I really do wish a promoter would bring Lemvo and his band Makina Loca over to Bangkok to play.
There are some other interesting albums in the charts. The debut album by the Gambia-UK band, Fofoulah, is an intriguing mix of urban sounds and Gambian rhythms, while classic guitar from Djessou Mory Kante on River Strings — Maninka Guitar is a must for fans of West African music. But the one album that I'd strongly recommend is Tzenni by Noura Mint Seymali; she is a griot who fuses great West African singing with a more modern soundtrack. She has a terrific voice and the album was recorded in New York.
Elsewhere, look out for the Egyptian flamenco of Ali Khattab on Sin Pais and the soaring pipes of classical trained Turkish singer Olcay Bayir.
Many thanks to all of you who stopped in to celebrate the 20th anniversary of this column at Studio Lam last month.
A very good time was had by all. I had a lot of fun playing some of the music I've been writing about over the past two decades. There are plans to make this a more regular event, beginning with a night of rhythm and blues, jump jive, urban blues, rockabilly, swamp pop, zydeco and Western swing — some of the music I've been writing about that I didn't get the chance to play last month.
And don't forget, Paradise Bangkok Molam International Band's debut album, 21st Century Molam, will be released at the end of the month here in Thailand. The album was recently voted Album of the Week by DJ Giles Peterson from BBC Radio 6. A launch party is being organised for the end of the month; check listings for details.
This columnist can be contacted at clewley.john@gmail.com.
