The main reason for the "no comment", is that - after years of asking around - I have found no information about this record. I found it, however, interesting enough to post. I have other albums on the same or closely related labels (amongst others by Wuta Mayi), and I suspect the orchestra may be the same.
Back in July 2009 AmbianceCongo posted a career retrospective on Syran Mbenza, and Part I of the series touched on his involvement in Kara. Tracks from this album and also one on Sonafric were posted. From what I can tell, the prevailing attitude seems to be that Kara was formed from Lovy du Zaire remnants, along with other musicians. Mr. Noyes also ments that Pablo and Djo Mpoyi were part of Kara.
"Ya Mudjura" is credited to Mayimona; that would be Mangwana Mayimona, wouldn't it?
Yes, it is indeed Syran M'Benza on guitar. I had mistakenly credited the lead vocals to Djo Mpoyi. The lead singer is Kiyika. Djo Mpoyi sings on the Sonafric album. This is a great record, but the other is a masterpiece in my opinion. Others have suggested that the out-of-tune horns on a couple of songs are due to bad or questionable orchestration. I find them to be fascinating and, I hope, to have been played like that on purpose. I love this album! DavidN.
Yes super killing record! The horns are not bothersome at all - if you listen to saxes from all over the continent there is a certain aesthetic one also finds here - from Franco's alto player (does anyone know his name, the one always dancing enthusiastically in the YouTube videos) even over to the lead sax player in the Rail Band and Balla et ses Balladins up in West Africa...
Anyway I aggree with Chris above, truly the best vintage of Congolese in my opinion...thanks!
Why no comment? This is a great album! That sounds an awful lot like Fan Fan Sesengo on guitar and backing vocals - any thoughts?
ReplyDeletePerhaps its a comment on the lack of comments here?
ReplyDeleteThe main reason for the "no comment", is that - after years of asking around - I have found no information about this record. I found it, however, interesting enough to post.
ReplyDeleteI have other albums on the same or closely related labels (amongst others by Wuta Mayi), and I suspect the orchestra may be the same.
great record!! lot of thank yous
ReplyDeleteMany thanks! I love this.
ReplyDeleteBack in July 2009 AmbianceCongo posted a career retrospective on Syran Mbenza, and Part I of the series touched on his involvement in Kara. Tracks from this album and also one on Sonafric were posted. From what I can tell, the prevailing attitude seems to be that Kara was formed from Lovy du Zaire remnants, along with other musicians. Mr. Noyes also ments that Pablo and Djo Mpoyi were part of Kara.
"Ya Mudjura" is credited to Mayimona; that would be Mangwana Mayimona, wouldn't it?
joe
Yes, it is indeed Syran M'Benza on guitar. I had mistakenly credited the lead vocals to Djo Mpoyi. The lead singer is Kiyika. Djo Mpoyi sings on the Sonafric album. This is a great record, but the other is a masterpiece in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteOthers have suggested that the out-of-tune horns on a couple of songs are due to bad or questionable orchestration. I find them to be fascinating and, I hope, to have been played like that on purpose.
I love this album!
DavidN.
viva out of tune horns inna african music, i love them, and the mild tension they create
ReplyDeletethis kinda congolese is tops, keep it coming! thanks
chris meserve
Yes super killing record! The horns are not bothersome at all - if you listen to saxes from all over the continent there is a certain aesthetic one also finds here - from Franco's alto player (does anyone know his name, the one always dancing enthusiastically in the YouTube videos) even over to the lead sax player in the Rail Band and Balla et ses Balladins up in West Africa...
ReplyDeleteAnyway I aggree with Chris above, truly the best vintage of Congolese in my opinion...thanks!
Is it possible that Flamy is K.P. Flamy? On NGOMA J DN 41: louise okobosana flammy/biso bilombe ya lelo - K.P. Flamy et son orchestre Jazz Beguen
ReplyDelete