Unbelievable! Tony Allen plays together with Estonian jazz all-stars band

19.12.2010, Tony Allen and Estonian jazz all-stars band, Jagaspace, Rock Café, Tallinn (Laura Kivik - MuKriErikursus 2010 VKA)

The long-awaited star of afrobeat and great drummer Tony Allen finally made it to Estonia at the end of december. Tony Allen’s concerts were postponed already two times before, so everybody were superexcited about Allens arrival – the audience, the organizer and the artist himself. The concerts were cancelled earlier due to the wheather, Allen and his band were stuck in Paris airport.

But finally he made it! Unfortunately this time we also can not talk about the perfect course of events because only the guitarrist Kologbo Orghene made it to Estonia with mr Allen. This time it was also the wheather’s fault and the other members and the sound engineer could not take off again.

The night before the concert day the organizer Helen Sildna was constantly in touch with Tony Allen and his tour manager having only one question on their minds – what to do now? Should the concert be postponed for the third time? This option was precluded, because that would have been unfair to Allen’s  fans and also to Tony Allen himself. Another option was to find out maybe Kologbo and Allen would like to perform together as duo? We are still talking about a world famous drummer and a very talented guitarrist! But this plan also did not work and finally Allen gave his permission to put together an „Estonian all-stars band“ to perform with him and Kologbo. 

At first it seemed really difficult to find competent musicians to play with Allen, but in reality it was very easy – probably every artist would freak out if they would receive a call about wether they would like to perform with Tony Allen in few hours. Sildna managed to involve the elite of Estonian jazz:  Peedu Kass on the bass,  Jaak Sooäär on guitar, Kristjan Mazurtchak & Raivo Tafenau on saxophone, Raun Juurikas on keyboards, and vocalist Sofia Rubina.

All the musicians came together only few hours before the concert to confirm the tracklist and talk about what they are excactly going to do.  Tony Allen’s term to the „Estonia all-stars band“ was that all the musicians have to know how to play afrobeat. Of course Sildna couldn‘t find experts. I doubt if there are such afrobeat experts in Estonia at all, but from the moment Allen started to instruct Estonian musicians we can now say that there are quite some real afrobeat experts in Estonia now. But they also have had a great teacher!

The warm-up band Jagaspace, influenced by oriental sounds and electronic effects, is a new and exciting group, but not my taste. The musicians were very professional, but to me something was missing. I dont think it was sincerity, but for some reason I did not believe in their performance. For me it is really difficult to understand such music where the band is strongly influenced by music of other origins. Some are just too strong for following and the imitation seems in some cases insincere and even wrong to my taste. On the other hand it seemed Jagaspace got some new fans because the audience seemed to like them.

The headliner Tony Allen’s performance was late, but the warm up band was also late. But I can confirm indeed that Allen’s late entrance was compensated by his performance on the stage. I can only praise the Estonian musicians also. When I heard that there will be Estonian jazz musicians playing with Allen, I was a bit sceptical. Not that I don’t respect Estonian jazz-musicians! Not at all, in fact any group including for example Jaak Sooäär, Peedu Kass or Sofia Rubina is magnificent. But I still could not imagine how does the elite of  Estonian jazz musicians sound together with the genius of afrobeat – Tony Allen. Especially if knowing that they have rehearsed  together for only few hours.

But my preconceptions were wrong, the concert was great! A bit inapt seemed the fact that all the Estonian musicians kept while performing their eyes constantly on Allen, it seemed a bit dilettante,  it seemed as they were afraid. On the other hand the fear was justified – it is still Tony Allen we are talking about, the living master. And if the band has played together for only few hours before the show and they are performing Allen’s own songs, you have to hand the reins to Tony Allen and of course let him lead the band.

Of course/Indeed Allen coped with it perfectly and proved that he really is the star of  afrobeat. I thought many times, how it is possible that (let’s be honest) such old man can play drums with such an energy, sing at the same time and lead the hole band. Unbelievable!

The guitar player Kologbo Orghene proved  that obviously not anyone is able to play in Tony Allen’s group. Orghenes solos were crazy and gorgeous, technically tricky and humorous simultaneously. This guy really knows how to charm the audience. While being so charming I was amazed – how can he play the guitar while being so positive and communicating with the audience!?

Finally, I dare to claim, that the almost four months waiting period to see and listen Tony Allen was definitely worth it. Despite the fact, that Tony Allen’s band couldn’t make it, his technique compensated it and proved that in afrobeat there is no other Tony Allen.

Laura Kivik (UT VCA Student of Cultural Management)