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Avg: 4.5 (29 ratings)
- Date Released: October 7, 2003
- Genre: International
- Style: Africa
- Label: Sterns / IODA
Rumba as it might have been.
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We Say...
Beginning in 2001, these Congolese veterans triggered a move away from the bloated, high-tech conventions of Congo music, back to its Latin and acoustic roots. On their second album, Kékélé hit stride not so much with retro authenticity as with reimagined originality — rumba as it might have been. Each soaring voice, snap and sizzle of percussion, and gleaming acoustic guitar note (mostly from the great Syran Mbenza) sounds vivid and in perfect balance. Four vocalists — Wuta-Mayi, Nyboma, Bumba Massa, and Loko Massengo — trade leads throughout, and join in brilliant choral backing. Tasty accordion spicing from Regis Gizavo of Madagascar, and an all-clarinet horn section make for a unique soundscape. "Issake Shango" showcases Nyboma’s soaring tenor and Syran's brisk acoustic guitar. There is one 6/8 number, "Oyebi Bien," but the rest is rumbaof the '60s Kinshasa variety, with Cuban flavoring: violin charanga on "Bebe Yaourt,” and son on "Affaire Mokuwa."
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They Say...
For their second album, Congo Life, the veterans of Congolese rumba who make up Kekele keep very much to the idea of their debut. But then, when you've done everything so right the first time, why make any major changes? There are refinements, and a few personnel changes -- the great guitarist Papa Noel and a couple of others aren't onboard this time around, but Rigo Star is on the six-string, so there's no dip in quality. In fact, it's a Star composition, "Oyebi Bien," that provides one of the standout moments, with a fabulous bass riff and a tremendous vocal from Nyboma, before hitting a crescendo and floating gauzily away. But it's almost a disservice to pick out any particular song here, because they're all so good, arranged with diamond clarity, whether it's the big tribute to the classic OK Jazz, led by the late Franco, or the medley of tunes from the golden age of rumba. There are, however, some surprises, but they come in the instrumentation -- neither violin nor clarinet ever had much of a place in rumba, although from the way they're used here, that seems more like an oversight than anything. As the men in Kekele prove over and over, you're never too old to rumba.
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| 01. |  |
Delali |
4:54 |
|
| 02. | |
Lolita |
4:29 |
|
| 03. | |
Issake Shango |
5:17 |
|
| 04. | |
Affaire Mokuwa |
5:07 |
|
| 05. | |
Bebe Yaourt |
5:02 |
|
| 06. | |
Nakobala Te |
5:05 |
|
| 07. | |
Mandoyi |
5:27 |
|
| 08. | |
Lili |
5:20 |
|
| 09. | |
Souvenirs-Ok-Jazz |
11:28 |
|
| 10. | |
Oyebi Bien |
4:44 |
|
| 11. | |
Silence |
5:10 |
|
11 Total Tracks, 62:03 Total Length
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Playlists If you like Kékélé, check out these member playlists
Credits
- François Bréant - Arranger // François Bréant - Marimba // François Bréant - Producer // François Bréant - Vibraphone // François Bréant - Shaker // François Bréant - Guest Appearance // Nicolas Gueret - Flute // Nicolas Gueret - Saxophone // Nicolas Gueret - Sax (Soprano) // Nicolas Gueret - Guest Appearance // Bumba Massa - Vocals // Bumba Massa - Choir, Chorus // Bumba Massa - Group Member // Régis Gizavo - Accordion // Régis Gizavo - Accordion // Régis Gizavo - Guest Appearance // Régis Gizavo - Guest Appearance // Syran Mbenza - Guitar // Miguel Gomez - Percussion // Miguel Gomez - Conga // Miguel Gomez - Cymbals // Miguel Gomez - Maracas // Miguel Gomez - Bells // Miguel Gomez - Shaker // Miguel Gomez - Guest Appearance // Deba Sungu - Conga // Deba Sungu - Guest Appearance // Kekele - Group // Kekele - Group // Claudio "Cacao" De Queiroz - Clarinet // Claudio "Cacao" De Queiroz - Guest Appearance
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