A new short film capturing one of Tony Allen’s last ever shows before his death in April has been released online.
The film was recorded in March of this year when Allen played two shows at London’s Church of Sound. The dates were due to mark the start of a run of live shows through the year supporting Allen’s Rejoice album, but COVID-19 forced the tour’s cancellation.
As well as clips of live performances from one of those shows, the film, which you can watch above, features interviews with Allen himself, as well as some of the musicians who joined him on stage, including South African trumpet player Claude Deppa and double bass player Mutale Chashi.
"I played two shows in London in March, which were meant to be the first of many Rejoice shows this year," Allen commented in April. "It was good to be playing these songs on stage so many years after the recording. My good friend Claude Deppa is a great South African trumpet player, we asked him to play Hugh [Masakela’s] parts on stage. Unfortunately the lockdowns started shortly after."
Allen passed away suddenly in Paris on April 30. He was 79.
