Monday, December 22, 2008

Ambiance Congo for December 21, 2008

For the last program of the year, Ambiance Congo presents the 4th and final special featuring the music of Les Bantous de la Capitale.

Here are a few covers from the albums we heard today:

A copy of the program is available for 2 weeks for download here:
After that, please find it in the Ambiance Congo Audio Archives.
Here is the tracklist:
1)King Kester Emeneya
sebene from DORIS ILOKO (this program's theme song)
from the CD PAS DE CONTACT
Black Music
2)Les Bantous de la Capitale
LISIE
from the CD LES GRANDS SUCCES DES BANTOUS DE LA CAPITALE VOL. 2
Anytha-Ngapy
3)Les Bantous de la Capitale
KUMBELE - KUMBELE
from the CD MAKANDO MIBALE
African / Sonodisc
4)Ry-Co Jazz
KOUMBELE
from the CD BON VOYAGE!!
Stern's Africa
5)Les Bantous de la Capitale
ANNIE DITSOU
from the LP LES BANTOUS DE LA CAPITALE
Sonafric
6)Les Bantous de la Capitale
EL LOCO
from the LP LES BANTOUS DE LA CAPITALE
Sonafric
7)Jose Missamou
SON SABROSITO
from the LP SPECIAL SALSA PARA TODOS
Safari Sound
8)Papa Noel
SALSA AFRICAINE
from the CD CAFE NOIR
Tumi Music
9)Les Bantous de la Capitale
SACA TU CUERPO **
from the 45RPM SUPER BANTOUS ET MUJOS ( No. 5)
Pathe/ Stenco
10)Les Bantous de la Capitale
MAGOBOU
from the 45 RPM single
Pathe / EMI
11)Les Bantous de la Capitale
DESTINO **
from the 45RPM SUPER BANTOUS ( No. 1)
Pathe/ Stenco
12)Les Bantous de la Capitale
MERCI MAMA
from the CD BAKOLO MBOKA
Cyriaque Bassoka
13)Pamelo Mounk'a avec Les Bantous
TOUT CA C'EST LA VIE
from the LP L'AMOUR ET LA DANSE
Black Music
14)Passy Ngongo Mermans
SANGA MALA
from the LP MONIA
Salsa Musique
15)Les Bantous "Monument"
TON AMI N'EST PAS TON AMI
from the CD PASSY MERMANS
Cyriaque Bassoka / A.P.L. Diffusion
16)Les Bantous de la Capitale
NA GAGNER BANGO
from the CD LES GRANDS SUCCES DES BANTOUS DE LA CAPITALE VOL 3
Anytha-Ngapy
17)Les Bantous de la Capitale
SUP' MADISON **
from the 45RPM SUPER BANTOUS ET MUJOS (No. 4)
Pathe / Stenco
18)Les Bantous de la Capitale
IN WALKED BUD ***
from the reel tape recorded by Leo Sarkisian
Voice of America archives
19)Les Bantous de la Capitale
FIFI ZONGELA NGAI
from the LP LES BANTOUS DE LA CAPITALE
Music-Press
20)Ange Linaud
PETIT MODELE
from the LP ANGE LINAUD
Afro-Rtythmes
*=by request
**=courtesy of Stefan at Worldservice
***=courtesy of Mattew at Voice of America



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Sunday, December 7, 2008

Ambiance Congo for Sunday December 7, 2008

This edition features the the varied and accomplished work of the artists of the group Kekele.
The core of Kekele is made up of singers and guitarists for whom I have (and have had!) a huge amount of respect.
If you like rumba, you will love this program! Guaranteed!
Here are a few of the albums from which you will hear a song on today's program.
Download the program here:
Here is the tracklist:
1)Kekele
OTAGE YA BOLINGO feat. Wuta Mayi
from the CD RUMBA CONGO
Stern's Africa
3)Wuta Mayi
DEVANCE NGAI
from the LP OLE LA VIE
Eddy'son
4)Quatre Etoiles
KAYBYBY * feat. Nyboma, Wuta Mayi & Syran M'Benza
from the LP DANCE
Tangent
5)Syran M'Benza
DOMINGO *
from the LP ELISA DANGWA
Africamania
6)Bumba Massa
MOKILI COMPILQUE
from the LP MARIA THERESA
Afro Rythmes
7)Kekele
NAKOBALA TE * feat. Bumba Massa
from the CD CONGO LIFE
Stern's Africa
8)Lipua-Lipua
MA MOKE feat. Nyboma
from the LP LES DERNIERS SUCCS DE LIPUA-LIPUA
Ets. Veve International
9) L'International Orchestre Rumbaya
AU REVOIR GUY-GUY feat. Loko Massengo
from the LP NOUVEATE 1981
Musiclub
10)Papa Noel
ZA MOKE
from the LP ZA MOKE
Rythmes Et Musique
11)Rigo Star
MBADI MAWE feat. Madilu System
from the CD LES GERANTS FORUMLE 1
Syllart Productions / Africando
12)Le Poete Simaro Lutumba
MOBALI YA BATO feat. M'Bilia Bel
from the CD SALLE D'ATTENTE
Production Gabin Tembo
13)Franco & Le T.P. OK Jazz
MELOU feat. Wuta Mayi
from the CD 20e ANNIVERSAIRE 6 JUIN 1956-6 JUIN 1976 VOLUME 1
Sonodisc/African
14)Trio Madjesi
MIMI LANUNZE feat. Loko Massengo
from the CD BUTTEREUR
Sonodisc
15)Papa Noel & Papi Oveido
Kin Havane
from the CD BANA CONGO
Tumi Music
15)Kekele
BA KRISTO feat. Kekele & M'Bilia Bel
from the CD KINAVANA
Stern's Africa
*= by request
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Sunday, November 30, 2008

Lita Bembo's European albums

Singer Lita Bembo led up one of my very favorite bands, Orchestre Stukas. The Stukas made one album that I know of without Lita Bembo, BALLADE A LIBREVILLE.
In the mid 1980s, Lita Bembo made at least two solo albums in Europe on which he was backed by musicians other than the Stukas.

One of these albums, CONFLIT, was cut in Brussels and it is a pretty good record. Lita Bembo, as a singer, and his music are both very true to the music for which he was beloved in the former Zaire. The other musicians on the album are only listed as being other scandalously unnamed Zaireans from Brussels assisted by named Belgians. The keyboards on this album are replaced by a synthesizer and it is brought farther into the foreground than we would have heard keyboards with the Stukas. Played by Roland Dechamps, the synth carries some wild and wonderful riffs that I believe were intended to reflect the original Stukas sound.
Listen to this album here:
The other European album, NOUVEAU RYTHME SACCADE, is touted on the sleeved as being "La Renaissance D'Une Legende", but it is a much less successful album.
This recording is almost as weird and out of character for Lita Bembo as the oufit he sports on the sleeve. The record has it's moments and Lita Bembo still belts it out with all the enthusiasm and style we know him for, but the compositions fall somewhere between the soukous and disco genres. Judge for yourself:
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Monday, November 24, 2008

Ambiance Congo for Sunday November 23, 2008

This edition, we paid special tribute to the late Pepe Kalle, marking November 29 as 10 years since his passing. We also heard a variety of other great Congolese music.

Here are some covers of the albums and CDs we heard this time around.
Did you miss the program? For the next two weeks, you may download a copy here.
After that, find it in the Ambiance Congo Audio Archives.
Here is the track list:
1) King Kester Emeneya
sebene from DORIS ILOKO (this program's theme song)
from the CD PAS DE CONTACT
Black Music
2)Pepe Kalle & Orchestre Empire Bakuba Du Zaire
ZANGANO
from the LP KWASA KWASA
Leader Records
3)Empire Bakuba
NTOYA
from the CD SANGO YA MAWA
Ngoyarto
4)Orchestre Kiam *
NINA
from the LP EDITIONS VEVE 1974-75
African
5)Theo Blaise Kounkou
NADIA SOLEIL *
from the CD LES PLUS GRANDS SUCCES DE THO BLAISE VOL.2
Ets. TBK Likembe / Sonodisc
6)Tiers Monde
FAUX PROBLEMES
from the CD COOPERATION
Ngoyarto
7)Le Poete Lutumba Simaro
YUNA
from the CD SALLE D'ATTENTE
Production Gabin Tembo
8)Koffi Olomide
ETERNELLEMENT
from the CD FORCE DE FRAPPE
Sonodisc
9)J.D.T. Molopwe
MOLEKI NZELA
from the CD MOLEKI NZELA
Production DRTV
10)Dilu Dilumona & Empire Bakuba A Paris
NIZI
from the LP NIZI
K-Dance Productions
11)Bozi Boziana & L'Anti-Choc
JOEL PHOTO
from the CD BA BOKILO
Glenn Music
12)Serge Mabiala
AMOUR FIDELE
from the CD AFFECTION
Mobola Senzedi
13)Pascal Poba
INACHEVE
from the CD REFLEXION
Ets. N'Diaye
14) Pepe Kalle Et L'Orchestre Empire Bakuba Du Zaire
BITOTO *
from the LP BONANA 85
Alia Music
*=by request
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Tuesday, November 18, 2008

More pix from JB in DC




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Sunday, November 16, 2008

JB MPIANA & WENGE MUSICA deliver in DC!

Here are a few snapshots. If you missed it, blame only yourself!


They will be in Dallas November 29.
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Thursday, November 13, 2008

JB MPIANA in DC tomorrow night!


I hope to see you there!
Thanks to Mr. Abraham Luakabuanga, people who can show that they are coming from far away, those of us who cannot buy advance tickets, may buy at the advance price at the door.

DC people, buy your advance tickets here:
1.SIMBA MUSIC 1333 Holton Lane Takoma Park, Md, 20912 301-445-1670

2.Mitchell Communication 12337-D Georgia Ave Silver Spring, Md ,20906
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Monday, November 10, 2008

AMBIANCE CONGO for Sunday November 9, 2008

Welcome once again to Ambiance Congo. This program features two hours of Congolese music, aired every other week.
This edition, we heard again a combination of various styles from 2008 and from the decades before.

Here a few of the albums we sampled:


Did you miss the program? Please download a copy here and leave your
comments. I'd love to take your requests and to hear your thoughts.
Here is the tracklist for today's program.
1) King Kester Emeneya
sebene from DORIS ILOKO (this program's theme song)
from the CD PAS DE CONTACT
Black Music
2) Titina Alcapone
LE BOURGEOIS
from the CD AFFAIRE A SUIVRE
Sound Africa

3)Rento Vena & Terra Isa Mera
LIBALA
from the CD ARAFAT
Signore Production / Sonima Music

4)Kekele
YO ODECONER feat. M'Bilia Bel *
from the CD KINAVANA
Stern's Africa

5)Serge Mabiala
DEVOIR
from the CD AFFECTION
Mobola Senzedi Production

6)Malage De Lugendo
CAUCHEMAR
from the CD SMS
Ebherliss Records

7)Simaro
VACCINATION
from the CD VIVEMENT SIMARO MERCI L'ARTISTE *
Diego Music

8)Franco & Le T.P. O.K. Jazz
TAMBOU LUNTADILA
from the LP A 0 HEURE CHEZ 1-2-3
Edipop

9)Les Bantous De La Capitale
NA NDIMI KURUZE
from the LP MUSIC-PRESS PRESENTE LES BANTOUS DE LA CAPITALE
Music-Press

10)Bombenga Wewando & Groupe Vox Africa Du Zaire
NAOMBA RAZI
from the LP L' AGE D' OR
Kagi Productions

11)Zizi Nzanga
OKEYI TE MAYO
from the CD LENGELA CONGO
Production Solfege International

12)Gina Efonge & Libanko
LIBANGO MARINGA
from the CD BEST OF GINA EFONGE
Esselta

13)Cartouche
MOBEMBO
from the LP LE PROPHETE CARTOUCHE DE VICTORIA ELEISON
Disques Esperance

14)Choc Stars
SAISON SECHE *
from the CD PECHE DE LA FEMME
Bono-Music

15)Bluff Wabalonzo & Viva La Musica
GENE
from the LP FILLE UNIQUE
Production Bluff Wabalonzo

16)JB M'Piana & Wenge BCBG
excerpt from QUEL EST TON PROBLEME?
from the CD QUEL EST TON PROBLEME?
Ets. N'Diaye

*=by request
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Sunday, November 2, 2008

"Ya Pergaud"

Here are a couple of albums by a singer I know next to nothing about. Verckys thought enough of him to record these albums at his Studio Veve and to accompany the band on saxophone.


Who is "Ya Pergaud" Jean Sylvain Goma? The liner notes on these albums refer to the accompanying musicians as being from "le groupe vocal Anges Noirs", but that's not much help. The only Anges Noirs that I know about was a nightclub in Brussels where Congolese artists performed at about the time of Independance in 1960.
So why did Verckys invest in this band? Listen to the songs and judge for yourself. There's a lot of good music here, music you'll be hard pressed to find elsewhere.
I find these recordings to be impressive in that they refer back to Franco's OK Jazz and yet fit right in with the times in which they were recorded. There is also a flavor contemporary with the generation Choc Stars and Zaiko Langa Langa.
Interesting albums. Please leave your comments. I'd like to know more about the band and about "Ya Pergaud" as well.
Listen to the albums here:
This link has been updated to include both albums.
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Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Ambiance Congo for Sunday October 26, 2008

This edition was broadcast during WRIR's semi-annual fundraiser.
WRIR is nonprofit community radio that depends upon public support.
The program was chosen, primarily, from requests and new music.
Here are a few album covers.
Did you miss it? Down load it here:
Here's the track list.
1) King Kester Emeneya
sebene from DORIS ILOKO (this program's theme song)
from the CD PAS DE CONTACT
Black Music
2)Malage De Lugendo
LA CIBLE
from the CD SMS
Ebherliss Record
3)Fidele Zizi
UN OUVRIER QUALIFIE feat. Master Mwana Congo*
from the LP MA MUSIQUE A MOI
AfroRythmes
4)Papa Noel
MAKOLO TAMBOLA
from the LP ZA MOKE
Rythmes Et Musique
5)Orchestre Canon Du Zaire
AZIZA MON AMOUR *
from the LP DJO MPOY / JOSKY
Africamania
6)Maray Maray
ZALOMETI
from the LP MARAY / JOSKY / ESPERANT
Production T. Mayala
7)Emma Vuiti
DOROTINA
from the LP BLACK BORSALINO 2
Ets. Kaluila
8)Titina Alcapone
ELEGANT
from the CD AFFAIRE A SUIVRE
Sound Africa
9)Werra Son & Wenge Maison Mere
RETOUR INTERDIT
from the CD TEMPS PRESENT MAYI YA SIKA VOL. 1
Duo D'Enfer
10)Celeo Scram
AMOUR CHIFFONIER
from the CD NZOTO NA NZOTO
Kiki Toure
11)Zaiko Langa Langa *
KABOBO
from the LP
TALA MOKILI ECHANGER
Prozal
12)Empire Bakuba
TRAHISON
from the LP LASSISSI PRESENTE EMPIRE BAKUBA
Sacodis
*=by request
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Monday, October 20, 2008

Rochereau Vol. 1 - 8

A little while ago, I featured songs from a series of albums by the Choc Stars.
Another great series of albums was produced in the early 80s by the Disco Stock label of Abidjan. These are the eight volumes of Tabu Ley and L'Afrisa International, simply called ROCHEREAU VOL. 1 -8.
Please find a link to download songs from these albums at the bottom of this post.

The first four were recorded in 1981 in Kinshasa as co-productions of INA and Disco Stock.
Of these four, three were titled ROCHEREAU A ABIDJAN and featured compositions by Tabu Ley, Kiesse Diambu, Dino Vangu, Empompo Loway and others.

From Vol. I we start out with the very first song, a favorite of mine, called PAPY NITHO.


From Vol. II, again the first song. This one a Kiesse Diambu composition called ZUWA TE.
and from Vol. III, here's a version of Tabu Ley's O' Hambe. Another, later version of this song is on his wonderful 1985-86 album HAFFI DEO.
With Vol. 4 we see a few changes. The albums are no longer called ROCHEREAU A ABIDJAN, but the titles reference specific songs instead like PONCE PILATE and JALOUSIE MAL PLACEE.
Although we hear the guitar of Docteur Nico on earlier volumes, on Vol. 4 he is called to the forefront and pictured on the sleeve (see the post on Docteur Nico's late work and hear another song form the album here: http://ambiancecongo.blogspot.com/2008/08/docteur-nico-la-roue-qui-tourne.html )
From Vol. 4, please listen to MONUMENT.

For the song from Vol. 5, you will want to crank it up! ON A RACONTE is a song worthy of the highest volume you can give it! Yes they are indeed dancing on the sleeve there. Try to stand still for this one.


Vol. 6 is not my favorite in the series, although M. MALONGA is a very fine song.
With Vol.s 7 & 8, I can rely only on the changing availability of Congolese albums in the USA.
I do not know exactly what happened with the Disco Stock label, but my guess is that they began releasing albums on this side of the Atlantic in cooperation with Makossa Records, a label associated with the African Record Centre stores in NYC and Washington DC. Although this may or may not have had a down side, the up side was that the 80s saw a mini boom in the sales of Congolese albums and interest in African music in general in the USA.

The only copies I was able to find in the 1980s of these last two albums were on the combined label Disco Stock/Makossa. I think that these songs were simply pulled from other albums and put together as compilations. Good choices though!
Vol. 7 features M'Bilia Bel on two of the four songs.

From this one, as well as from Vol. 8, I have included a version of Tabu Ley's MPEVE YA LONGO. The first is sung by M'Bilia Bel, the second by Rochereau himself.
Which do you prefer?
Here are the songs:
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