Tony Allen An Autobiography of the Master Drummer of Afrobeat

"Tony Allen is an engaging person, an important musical figure during a dynamic era in African music, and a major contributor in the creation of an influential musical genre. He and Fela Kuti emerge in his portrayal as dedicated musical seekers who continually struggled to develop and protect their art. Allen's memoir is an exceptional achievement that will make readers wish to have been there with them to live it all again." - John M. Chernoff, percussionist, ethnographer, author "This is a much needed, truly fascinating book... Allen spins the tale of his life, and of the evolution of one of the great popular musical styles of the 20th century, like the great storyteller he is. It's a narrative filled with tasty anecdotes and twinkling details, which just add to its momentum. You can almost see the wry smile on his face as he challenges you to make up his own mind... Allen's totally absorbing narrative was edited and shaped by Michael E. Veal... In his introduction he treats us to an unbeatably succinct, lucidly accurate contextual analysis of Allen as a 'Yoruba modernist'. He also gets to grips with how the Allen technique works... This is highly readable and highly recommended." - Max Reinhardt, Songlines "Allen reflects on 50 years at the coalface... One of the great sidemen, Allen here cuts mercilessly through the bullshit." - David Hutcheon, Mojo "No one could say that Tony Allen's autobiography isn't great value for money. On first glance, the book contains Allen's reminiscences and a forward by Michael E Veal, Wire contributor and a professor of music and African-American studies at Yale University... This master drummer's account is enriched by unstinting critical appraisal, whether evaluating Fela's most loved recordings or his own subsequent solo efforts. Tony Allen, ever restless, retains the enthusiasm of an absolute beginner, tempered with a survivor's wisdom. His life obviously a work in progress, on anticipates music yet to come and the stories that surface in its wake."--Richard Henderson, The Wire, October 2013