The source

"The Source builds on Allen's recent mini-LP of Art Blakey covers, but this time he and musical director Yann Jankielewicz invoke other jazz legends. Ewajo recalls Miles Davis's angular modal jazz; On Fire is based around a Dizzy Gillespie-style chromatic trumpet riff; Cruising evokes Duke Ellington's tone poems; Push and Pull sounds like an ecstatic New Orleans marching band. Each is set to one of Allen's herky-jerky drum patterns and a restrictive ostinato bassline, but Allen's Parisian band explore each theme in detail, with some garrulous, impressive solos from the likes of saxophonist Rémi Sciuto and trumpeter Nicolas Giraud".

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On this hybrid album of jazz and Afrobeat, long-time Fela Kuti drummer Tony Allen makes the complex sound effortless. Rarely has percussive innovation sounded this downright satisfying".

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"There's a real chamber jazz aspect to many of the songs as the band swells and vibrates against Allen's intense drum tumult until the entire ensemble erupts into a cacophony of soulful, winding skronk. If Allen felt the impulse to celebrate his idol Art Blakey on his previous EP, with The Source, he offers an open-ended coda to that influence; an earthy, majestic, endlessly inventive album that caps both his own storied career and points the way toward the future".

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"Here, the former Fela Kuti drummer pays tribute to those jazz giants who influenced his music. Predominantly, his 11-piece Parisian band recalls the hard bop sound of Art Blakey but elements of Gil Evans and Lester Bowie are apparent, creating music that's tough, taut and multifaceted ... Allen is inspirational throughout, creating a range of personalised drum patterns, and hey! You cand dance to every darn thing!".