Home Cooking

Tony Allen | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 25, 2003)
• Original Release Date: 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Narada
• ASIN: B00008NG9G
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #201,739 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #61 in Music > World Music > Africa > Nigeria

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

As the drummer and bandleader of Fela Kuti’s mighty Africa 70, Tony Allen was the guy who figured out how to fuse Fela’s love of jazz, funk and African high life music into the unstoppable groove known as Afro-beat. Since the ‘80s, Allen’s solo work is probably the most cutting edge stuff in the genre, these days bringing in elements of London hip-hop, Jamaican dub, electronic music, and anything else that catches his fancy. As always, Allen’s drums chitter-chatter with a pulsing kick drum, syncopated snare, and accented cymbals. He’s joined by regular bassist Cesar Anot and guitarist Jeff Kellner as well as a variety of keyboardists, rappers, and singers (Blur’s Damon Albarn appears on opening track "Every Season"). Allen’s own deep-throated voice sounds as cool as ever as he chants such political catch phrases as "Don’t take my kindness for weakness." All in all, this is a deeply funky album that reveals the evolving possibilities of Afro-beat while maintaining its staunch stance as political music. --Tad Hendrickson

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Afro-beat with a political message, May 1, 2003

By 

Joanna Daneman (Middletown, DE USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Home Cooking (Audio CD)

There is great percussion here, definitely an afro-funk sound. The lyrics are clear, interesting and a nice alternative to hip-hop. There is a definite political message here, with lyrics like "Stop it, put your guns and your rockets, back in your pockets."

If you like Frank Zappa, Home Cookin', the title cut will be really, really familiar. I found this very listenable. This cd will appeal to a strangely broad set of music listeners, from old Zappa fans, to those looking for new flavor in Hip-Hop to people who like political songs, to those who love afro-funk percussion. An interesting album.

5.0 out of 5 stars The Afrobeat Master is Still Cookin', October 9, 2005

By 

Ran Diego Russell (Denver, Colorado United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Home Cooking (Audio CD)

After hearing a cut from Black Voices that's part of the anthology Afrobeat...No Go Die, I knew I had to hear more of Tony Allen's work outside the Fela catalogue. Besides solid grooving top to bottom, this recording's special ingredients include his work with fresh-sounding London hip-hoppers that are respectfully and artfully interwoven into these modern Afrobeat compositions. Also one dynamite track with the great English jazz vibes player, Roger Beaujolais. Everything on this session is a winner, from the drums and bass up front to the arrangements and rich interweaving of backup vocalists and horns that don't overpower any of the other musicians. Everyone including Afrobeat, jazz, and hip hop musicians will enjoy this as much as clubbers should.