''Rejoice'' is a collaborative

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...

afrobeat Afrobeat (also known as Afrofunk) is a West African music genre, fusing influences from Nigerian (such as Yoruba) and Ghanaian (such as highlife) music, with American funk, jazz, and soul influences. With a focus on chanted vocals, complex i ...

album by Nigerian drummer Tony Allen and South African trumpeter

Hugh Masekela Hugh Ramapolo Masekela (4 April 1939 – 23 January 2018) was a South African trumpeter, flugelhornist, cornetist, singer and composer who was described as "the father of South African jazz". Masekela was known for his jazz compositions and f ...

. World Circuit released the album on .

Background

The original sessions were recorded in London in 2010 by World Circuit's Nick Gold, who was eager to document the first recorded meeting of the two African music legends when their touring schedules coincided. After Masekela's death in 2018, additional tracks were recorded, again in London's Livingston Studios, in summer 2019. The album was released on 20 March 2020. In addition to serving as the final studio album for Masekela, it also became Tony Allen's final studio album before his death on 30 April 2020. The album contains eight tracks written by Allen and Masekela. The track "Never (Lagos Never Gonna Be the Same)" is a tribute to

Fela Kuti Fela Aníkúlápó Kútì (born Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti; 15 October 1938 – 2 August 1997) was a Nigerians, Nigerian musician and political activist. He is regarded as the principal innovator of Afrobeat, a Nigerian music genre t ...

, through whom Allen and Masekela first met in the 1970s.

Critical reception

''Rejoice'' was met with widespread critical acclaim. At

Metacritic Metacritic is an American website that aggregates reviews of films, television shows, music albums, video games, and formerly books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted average). Metacritic was created ...

, which assigns a weighted average rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, this release received an average score of 82, based on eight reviews, which indicates "universal acclaim". Album of the Year assessed the critical consensus as 81 out of 100 based on four reviews. In reviewing the album, Nigel Williamson for '' Uncut'' wrote: "Warm, uplifting and fizzing with both passion and virtuosity, Rejoice is not only a fitting last will and testament from Masekela, but a glorious affirmation of music at its most potent and universal." ''

Jazz Journal ''Jazz Journal'' is a British jazz magazine established in 1946 by Sinclair Traill (1904–1981). It was first published in London under the title ''Pick Up'', which Traill founded as a locus for serious jazz criticism in Britain.Roberta Freund S ...

''s Bruce Lindsay commented: "Ten years in the making, ''Rejoice'' was worth the wait. It's a celebratory, groove-laden, thoughtful, danceable, collection from two of the great figures in music." Joel Campbell of '' The Voice'' wrote: "Rejoice' can be seen as the long-overdue confluence of two mighty African musical rivers – a union of two free-flowing souls for whom borders, whether physical or stylistic, are things to pass through or ignore completely." In his review for ''

PopMatters ''PopMatters'' is an international online magazine of cultural criticism that covers aspects of popular culture. ''PopMatters'' publishes reviews, interviews, and essays on cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, ...

'', George De Stefano noted: "If you need something to get your socially isolated ass off the couch and up and shaking, ''Rejoice'' is the album. Even if you have to dance alone, some polyrhythmic pleasure during a pandemic is no little thing. With its deep grooves and virtuosic playing, the pairing of Allen and Masekela—overdue and sadly not to be repeated—''Rejoice'' is a posthumous reminder of what Hugh Masekela at his best could deliver and of the now 80-year-old Allen's amazing vitality."

Track listing

Charts

References

{{Authority control 2020 collaborative albums Tony Allen (musician) albums World Circuit (record label) albums Hugh Masekela albums