Archie Alleyne was simply put, the Canadian equivalent to Art
Blakey. His drumming style wasn’t one
of flash, but of taste, preciseness and support for the band and its
soloists. To know Archie Alleyne is
to know a piece of black Canadian jazz history that began with the likes of
Oscar Peterson and artists such as Alfred and Donovan Coward from Nova Scotia,
Daisy Sweeney, Oliver Jones, Sonny Greenwich, Frank Wright and Wray Downes to
name a few.
His crowning moments, done at the turn of the 21st
century, was two things: co-found a jazz
group named Kollage which at the time was one the few, if not the only,
all-black hard bop jazz bands in Canada.
The other was founding a scholarship fund under his name to encourage
and support artists of colour who would be struggling to get a chance to be
educated in the top schools of the country in music.
What I thank God for Archie is the legacy that he left behind through
educating people young and old about the rich history and past of jazz and one
who selflessly gives back to those who are in need. Through his band, there were no complicated
charts, odd-time signatures, experimental exercises or jazz with elements of
contemporary populism. Archie was all
about the true essence of jazz, which is found in swing, groove, rhythm, feel,
and whole greasy bucket of soul, something that the up and coming generation of
musicians should take a cue and learn from in order to preserve the integrity
of jazz.
Archie, wherever you are, thanks for everything.
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