Tony Allen - Afrobeat Legend in Moscow

On August 27th, a multi-format festival will take place in the 'Hermitage Garden,' which will be the culmination of a series of events held this season in both capitals. Of course, the main highlight of the festival will be the selection of musicians who will perform on three stages throughout the evening at the 'Hermitage Garden.' The main musical sensation of the event will be the great Nigerian Tony Allen, a cult figure for all fans of contemporary music. Allen, one of the creators of 'afrobeat,' a unique genre that blends jazz, funk, soul, and distinctly African 'highlife' into unique dance rhythms, succeeded in melding national African 'groove' into a European instrumental format for the first time. Tony Allen continues to surprise his fans by opening up new layers and horizons of African musical culture for Europeans. Noteworthy artists in the concert program will also include: Nino Katamadze - performer of original ethno-jazz, revered across Europe with her band Insight; Markscheider Kunst - an original club group that has captured music lovers' hearts across various meridians; 'Deti Picasso' - a musical revelation of recent seasons, performing unique ethno-funk-rock music that has been enthusiastically received by a wide audience; 'Pacava it' - a unique orchestra where each performer is a talented multi-instrumentalist. The music of 'Pacava' is vibrant, sunny, extravagant, and always filled with an indescribable, spirited drive. Alexander Delfinov - performer of 'rhythm-n-poetry,' an alternative poetry genre accompanied by an energetic rhythm section, gaining popularity. Also featuring Tress Muchaches end companieros, Safety Magic, Dyusha Funky, and others. Tony Allen, a Nigerian and one of the great drummers of our planet, co-created afrobeat with Fela Kuti, incorporating its complex dance rhythms from a fusion of jazz, funk, soul, and uniquely African highlife. Allen played with Kuti for nearly 20 years. Their paths diverged 24 years ago, but Tony Allen continues to pave new paths and horizons in African music. Despite his small stature, Tony astounds all who see and hear him, on and off the stage, with a transcendent magical force, calmly controlling the group even while seated behind his massive drum kit. Tony Allen grew up in Lagos, Nigeria, surrounded by music from an early age. His father, an automotive engineer, played juju music and other indigenous Yoruba music on the radio at home and at celebrations, often singing and playing various instruments with his children. Tony decided to pursue a music career instead of engineering, drawn to Lagos's nightclubs and highlife music scene, alongside artists like Rex Lawson, Ramblerz, and E.T. Mensah. In those days in Lagos, musicians couldn't afford instruments. To access them, one had to join a group performing in clubs and hotels since these establishments owned the instruments. Tony recruited 'Sir' Victor Olaiya, famous for discovering new talented musicians. He had previously sung with a certain Fela Ransome Kuti, before Fela departed for London to study music. Tony began in the group as a percussionist but seized his chance to shine when the drummer fell ill and Tony was offered the role. Playing in various ensembles, studying American jazz intensely, Tony constantly sought his own sound and the essence of music. In 1964, he was invited to play for a fellow named Fela Kuti, who was looking for a drummer for his new group, Koola Lobitos. Fela immediately recognized a kindred spirit in Tony - both loved and understood jazz, infusing it with highlife. Together, they became the creators of one of the main genres of the 20th century - afrobeat. Fela was the charismatic leader of the group, a guru with brilliant ideas. Tony, calm and collected, complemented Fela's music and arrangements perfectly. Tony always composed his own parts, unlike the other musicians in the group, making it a band with two leaders. By the mid-1970s, Fela Anikulapo Kuti had become an African superstar known both in Africa and beyond. Meanwhile, Tony Allen began to grow disillusioned with the group dynamics and the frenzy surrounding Fela Kuti, believing it detracted from the music's power. He departed, continuing his quest for his sound. Fela Kuti had to hire four drummers to fill Tony's void - such was his prowess. Tony Allen emigrated to Europe in the late 1970s, performing with King Sunny Ade and Ray Lema. There he released the afrobeat masterpiece 'NEPA.' In the 1990s, he released 'Black Voices,' a stylish album strongly influenced by dub and electronic music, for the French label Comet Records. At the turn of the millennium, Tony released the jazz afrobeat album 'Psycho On Da Bus.' Several more albums followed, with his latest, 'Homecooking,' released in 2002. Fela Kuti once said that afrobeat would become popular worldwide, demonstrating prophetic talent as it has. Afrobeat is now a highly popular music genre - in addition to Tony Allen and Fela Kuti's sons, countless musicians play it (e.g., Americans Antibalas, Dele Sosimi, etc.) along with DJs/producers like Masters at Work, Joe Clausell in the USA, and Ashley Beadle, Da Lata, IG Culture, Zenzile in European clubs. Hip-hop stars acknowledge his influence, often sharing the stage with Tony Allen. Damon Albarn of The Blur is a huge Tony Allen fan, regularly performing with him, as is the English rap star Ty. Tony Allen and Damon Albarn are recording an album together to be released in 2005 on the EMI label. Tony Allen and his band perform regularly at major festivals in Europe and around the world, alongside artists like The Blur. For instance, in 2003 during tours supporting a new album, he played at Glastonbury and Roskilde, two of Europe's main rock festivals, and had successful tours in the USA and Canada. His infectious, stylish rhythms and afrobeat-electronics compel people to dance and delve into the essence of the rhythm, encapsulating the spirit of African music. An event of such magnitude cannot be contained within a purely musical format. During the festival, the entire Hermitage Garden area will transform into a zone of creative experimentation, where literally every visitor can express themselves as a musician, artist, sculptor, model, or miniaturist. The festival's theme, offering creative freedom and excellent music on three stages simultaneously, promises to be an emphatic highlight in the string of unforgettable events held this season. Art Festival at the 'Hermitage Garden' August 27th, 4:00 PM, Moscow