Search - Tony Allen :: Jealousy / Progress

Jealousy / Progress
Tony Allen
Jealousy / Progress
Genres: International Music, Pop, R&B
 
  •  Track Listings (4) - Disc #1

Drummer Tony Allen was the rhythmic force behind Fela Kuti's influential Afro-beat ensemble of the 1970s. Though Allen's own recordings expanded and elaborated on the formula they co-created, his early LPs remained out ...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Tony Allen
Title: Jealousy / Progress
Members Wishing: 3
Total Copies: 0
Label: Evolver
Original Release Date: 1/1/1978
Re-Release Date: 6/18/2002
Album Type: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
Genres: International Music, Pop, R&B
Styles: Africa, Funk
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 823276200529

Synopsis

Amazon.com
Drummer Tony Allen was the rhythmic force behind Fela Kuti's influential Afro-beat ensemble of the 1970s. Though Allen's own recordings expanded and elaborated on the formula they co-created, his early LPs remained out of print for years. Now the long-lost treasures are back as double-CD releases, and they still move and groove with the same force as three decades ago. Imagine a Nigerian version of James Brown's band with Art Blakey's finesse and Max Roach's jazzy complexity and you'll understand the groove signature of the extended tracks. With Allen's drumming driving the gut-level bass lines, down-home horns, spacy keyboards, and spicy vocals, cuts like the nearly 12-minute "Jealousy" and "Afro Disco Beat" will drive today's kids into Afro-diasporic dervishes that only a groove master like Tony Allen can conjure. --Eugene Holley, Jr.

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CD Reviews

Fela's Rhythmic Backbone
Michael B. Richman | Portland, Maine USA | 05/07/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)

"Tony Allen is without question one of the world's greatest drummers. As the rhythmic backbone of Fela Kuti's legendary Afrika 70 group, Allen's contribution to Afrobeat, and music in general, was essential. He was to Fela what Elvin Jones was to John Coltrane! His pivotal drumming style combined elements of traditional African, R&B/funk, and jazz polyrhythms to forge a truly revolutionary and distinctive sound. As a long time member of Fela's group, he was also high profile enough to make his own albums as a leader with Afrika 70, two of which are included here. "Jealousy," with its B-side "Hustler," and "Progress," with its B-side "Afro Disco Beat," have all the trademarks of classic Afrobeat -- pulsating march-like grooves, layered percussion, and great, catchy horn riffs. The only thing missing is Fela's booming baritone vocals. With facsimiles of the original cover art and an essay by esteemed Fela biographer Michael Veal, this is a most necessary purchase for Fela devotees. If you picked up all the Fela MCA reissues as I have (if you haven't, hurry up they are starting to go OOP), and you can't get enough Afrika 70, then this disc is for you."