The Nigerian inventor of Afrobeat pays tribute to the Jazz drummer Art Blakey, presented by XJAZZ Festival. With this latest project, Tony is realizing a childhood dream: to play the music of the most African of the bebop fathers, Art Blakey. This same drummer who spent years in African, earning the nickname “Buhaina”, and became such a major influence on Tony.
When he heard an Art Blakey record for the first time back in Lagos in the early 60s, he thought he was listening to several percussionists playing at the same time, not imagining that a single drummer was playing his instrument. From there on, year after year, he too developed a unique & personal way of playing the drums as if it was an orchestra. This tribute to one of the sources of inspirations which eventually led Tony to create Afrobeat, is a way of rounding the circle, moreover with the project being released by Blue Note, which has become a home to so much of the modern jazz repertoire.
XJAZZ Festival is the „different“ Jazz Festival in Berlin. A Festival that strives to cross boundaries, merging Jazz with other musical styles such as Electronic, African, and Neo-Classical music.
Tony Allen Quartet @ XJAZZ Festival LIVE
Friday, 5th May 2017 | 19:30 CET
Bi Nuu | U-Bahnhof Schlesisches Tor | 10997 Berlin Kreuzberg
tonyallenafrobeat.com | XJAZZ | event @ facebook
