The Source cover

The Source

Released

Tony Allen, the legendary drummer who invented Afrobeat, traveled in many different directions after leaving Fela Kuti’s band. He embraced funk, electronic dance music, and even hip-hop, but in 2017, he made one of his greatest records. The Source features a five-piece horn section, guitar, keyboards, and upright bass, playing funky, polyrhythmic jazz compositions written by Allen and saxophonist Yann Jankielewicz. The drumming is incredible, of course; Allen’s ability to combine rhythmic complexity and skull-thumping power (brought to the fore on “Cruising,” to pick just one example) makes this a ridiculously head-nodding, neck-snapping disc, but the band arrangements are tight and high-energy, too, combining bebop fluidity with the gutsy blare of classic soul.

Phil Freeman

Suggestions
Omega cover

Omega

Immanuel Wilkins
Ascension cover

Ascension

Black Art Jazz Collective
Clifford Brown & Max Roach cover

Clifford Brown & Max Roach

Max Roach, Clifford Brown
Treasure Island cover

Treasure Island

Keith Jarrett
Tutu cover

Tutu

Miles Davis
Skin Tight cover

Skin Tight

Ohio Players
Good Days cover

Good Days

Chicago Underground Quartet