Today’s program celebrates African jazz and mourns the loss of one it's greatest drummers and musical directors of all time Tony Allen. April 30th marked the 9th anniversary of UNESCO’s International Jazz Day and, ironically, on the same day, co-founder with the legendary Fela Kuti of Afrobeat, Tony Allen passed away of a heart-attack in Paris. His death was not liked to COVID-19. So you’ll hear music by lost legends of jazz: Fela & his Africa 70 band that included Tony Allen on drums, Manu Dibango who also sadly passed away this year, Hugh Masekela whom we lost in 2018, but also by living legends of jazz and artists who are not quite there yet to legend status, but still incredible. One of them is Alune Wade, who’s new work entitled “One Song for You” is Song of the Week. Kwame Ofori joins me for a virtual presentation of that song. This is the show to put you up to speed on African jazz.
Afrobeat Legend Tony Allen RIP & Jazz Hour - Music Time in Africa
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