Today, the world lost Tony Allen, one of the greatest drummers, and in fact one of the greatest musicians of all time.

What I loved about Tony was his rare ability to deploy stunning virtuosity in service of a truly unique musical voice.

Obviously, along with Fela, Tony was the originator of Afrobeed, which places him among the pantheon of the very few who created an entire genre of music.

Tony was inspired by paradigm-shifting drummers like Art Blakey and Max Roach, and now his body of work places him firmly in their artistic stratum.

I'd like to share a conversation that Tony and I had about five years ago.

Tony Allen, rest in peace.

This is Joe Wong.

Welcome to the Traffset, where each week we explore the lives of drummers.

I want to play something for you. Okay. I'm going to be a lot of the You're hearing zombie by felakuti in Africa 70,

featuring my guest Tony Allen on drums.

A native of Lagos, Nigeria,

Alan drew inspiration from ceremonial juju and Yoruba music,

American bebop, and Ghanaian Afro Jazz, ultimately creating a polyrhythmic

style that is fiercely intellectual while remaining irresistibly danceable. With a light touch,

he coaxes a massive sound from the drum kit that's unmistakably his own from Beat 1.

Tony and Fella began their musical partnership in 1964,

and over the course of more than 30 albums and endless live performances,

the two created and refined the genre that is known as Afrobeat.

This bold synthesis of high life, jazz, funk, and traditional spiritual music, paired with

a scathingly astute, radical political message, continues to resonate with listeners around the

world. Ellen left Fellas Band in 1980, but a band leader in his own right since the mid-70s,

he's released several classic albums under his own name.

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