The Source cover

The Source

Released

Tony Allen, the legendary drummer who invented Afrobeat, traveled in many different directions after leaving Fela Kuti’s band. He embraced funk, electronic dance music, and even hip-hop, but in 2017, he made one of his greatest records. The Source features a five-piece horn section, guitar, keyboards, and upright bass, playing funky, polyrhythmic jazz compositions written by Allen and saxophonist Yann Jankielewicz. The drumming is incredible, of course; Allen’s ability to combine rhythmic complexity and skull-thumping power (brought to the fore on “Cruising,” to pick just one example) makes this a ridiculously head-nodding, neck-snapping disc, but the band arrangements are tight and high-energy, too, combining bebop fluidity with the gutsy blare of classic soul.

Phil Freeman

Suggestions
Freya cover

Freya

Tineke Postma
Agharta cover

Agharta

Miles Davis
Free to Play cover

Free to Play

Espen Berg Trio
Ask the Ages cover

Ask the Ages

Sonny Sharrock
Aventurine cover

Aventurine

Linda May Han Oh
Old New cover

Old New

Tomeka Reid Quartet
Speaking in Tongues cover

Speaking in Tongues

David Murray, Fontella Bass
Where Have I Known You Before cover

Where Have I Known You Before

Return to Forever, Chick Corea