Royal Festival Hall, LondonAt almost three hours, Damon Albarn, Femi Koleoso, Ben Okri and co still struggled to encapsulate the full gamut of Allen’s creativity
In the 18 months since pioneering Afrobeat drummer Tony Allen died, the extent of his legacy has become increasingly apparent. Posthumous releases of exceptional new material continue to pour forth – from the audio-stitched hip-hop features of There Is No End, to the The Solution Is Restless with Joan As
police Woman and Dave Okumu.
Nowhere is the range of Allen’s influence more apparent than in Tony Allen: A Retrospective, his musical tribute taking place as part of the 2021 EFG
London Jazz Festival. Curated by longtime collaborator Damon Albarn, drummer Femi Koleoso, writer Ben Okri and Gorillaz bandmember Remi Kabaka, the lineup is one of the most extensive on the festival’s roster, featuring everyone from Finnish multi-instrumentalist Jimi Tenor to composer Nitin Sawhney, vocalist Wayne
SNOW, and Fela Kuti collaborator Dele Sosimi.