I spent some time on the www.matsulimusic.com website adding in a discographies section (Malombo, Batsumi and As-shams label so far). I've enabled comments in a blog style so please all your snippets and stories please. You'll also see a jukebox section where I put all the relevant podcasts from the podomatic site. Unfortunately my podcasts have been too popular and I ran out of bandwidth over there which is why I'm testing them via the DOT COM site. You can subscribe via the following RSS link or by clicking on the button on the sidebar at left.
This morning I received the publicity flier for Samba Mapangala's upcoming live shows (see below). By co-incidence I was looking for some of his early material with Les Kinois following a discussion with Stefan at World Service. After some trawling through the digital archives I came across two albums both of which were passed on to me from a visitor to the Melodica Record Store in Nairobi. The album I'm sharing with you today was labelled Malako Disco Original and despite the annoying crowd applause tacked on contains some of the songs that would make their way onto Samba Mapangala's break-through LP from 1982 "Its Disco-Time". Check this post for the history of that record.
Background from myspace/sambamapangala : Born in Matadi, Congo, Samba Mapangala moved to Kinshasa in the early 1970s, to pursue his secondary education. Inspired by legendary Congolese vocalists Tabu Ley Rochereau and Soki Dianzenza, it was there that Samba began his singing career. Samba’s early years included stints in the groups Bariza, Super Bella Bella and Super Tukina. It was while touring in Eastern Congo in 1975 that Samba and other musicians separated from Bikassy Bijos’ Orchestra Saka Saka. Recruited by a Ugandan promoter, Samba and his comrades set up camp in Kampala. There, they formed Les Kinois, with Samba as lead vocalist. In 1977, Les Kinois shifted their base to Nairobi, where they made their first recordings on 7” vinyl with Melodica Records. Hits like the original Malako, Sunday, Christmas and Sigana Mar Anyango rang out over the airwaves.
Les Kinois gave way to Orchestra Virunga in 1981, with Samba as bandleader and lead vocalist. 1982 saw the release of the “Disco Time” LP, which included Malako Disco, Virunga and other hits. Released internationally as “Virunga Volcano”, this album has been recognized in “World Music: 100 Essential CDs” by Simon Broughton.
Samba Mapangala & Virunga Live on Tour 2009: June 20: Kennedy Center, Washington DC, UN World Refugee Day 6 p.m. July 9: Kimmel Center, Philadelphia, PA July 10: Midsummer Night Swing, Lincoln Center, NYC July 11: Nyati Lounge, 543 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., Jersey City, NJ August: European tour, details to be announced October 9-10: Richmond Folk Festival, Richmond VA
The Sofrito crew have put together a very special evening of Afro Funk at the Empowering Church in Dalston on Saturday 23rd May! So far the line includes: KARL HECTOR AND THE MALCOUNS (LIVE) NOSTALGIA 77/THE SKELETON (LIVE) SOFRITO COMBO HUGO MENDEZ & FRANKIE FRANCIS PLUS GUESTS MILES CLERET (SOUNDWAY) THE MIGHTY CRIME MINISTER HOSTED BY MC KWASI 9:30 TIL VERY LATE – FIRST BAND ON AT 10:30
Karl Hector and the Malcouns have been described as “Afrodelic Kraut Funk from the minds behind the Poets of Rhythm and the Whitefield Brothers.” Headed by the mysterious Karl Hector – erstwhile leader of the Funk Pilots project – and aided by Poets of Rhythm/Whitefield Brothers guitarist Jan Whitefield alongside Thomas Myland and Zdenko Curlija (founders of the Malcouns), the band take a trip through heavy psychedelic Afro Funk, taking in melodies from Ethiopia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Their album Sahara Swing came out on Stones Throw/Now Again last year but their sizzling live show has never been seen in the UK - the 23rd May is their first UK appearance!
The Skeleton is a new Nostalgia 77 project and to top it all off the Sofrito DJs Hugo Mendez and Frankie Francis will be playing the best in Hot Tropical Rhythms, with special guest Miles Cleret (Soundway), the Mighty Crime Minister and MC Kwasi to complete a night of Tropical fun!
Tickets are £15 – advance tickets ONLY. Tickets from Sounds of the Universe in Soho (plus £1 booking fee) and Honest Jons (Ladbroke Grove), as well as by email (discos.sofrito@gmail.com/.
SOUND OF THE WORLD DJ RELAY 7 this THURSDAY 7th MAY - FREE! With yours truly for just 15 minutes of DJ fame at 8.30 [EDIT: MAKE THAT 11:30] and a special live performance from West African blues master LAYE SOW
Chilli Fried invites you down to the Sound of the World DJ Relay offering those on the Chilli Fried mailing list and contributors to Charlie Gillett's Sound of the World website (www.soundoftheworld.com) the chance to show off their skill behind the decks with short DJ sets. Everyone, from well known DJs, broadcasters and journalists to fresh faced first timers, get a quarter of an hour to play their selection of whatever they like and try to fill the floor.
There’ll be a special live set from Senegalese bluesman Laye Sow. A highly accomplished singer and guitarist from the North of the country (the region many consider to be the original birthplace of the sound that became the blues), Laye is a charismatic performer and an old friend of Chilli Fried, having performed at one of our early sessions. Tonight he’ll be previewing tracks from his forthcoming album, accompanied by guitar and calabash.
Come and join this FREE party and expect the unexpected.
Chilli Fried North, 8 PM – 12 AM, Thursday 7th May 2009 at Darbucka, 182 St John Street, London, EC1V 4JZ
A mix of classic East African rumba from the vaults. Alastair Johnston from Muzikifan provides the context: "The 1970s through mid-80s was the era of Congolese expatriate bands in Nairobi: groups like Boma Liwanza of Shango Lola, Les Kinois of Samba Mapangala, Super Mazembe of Longwa Didos, and Les Mangelepa of Bwammy wa Lumwona (who had come East with Baba Gaston and Baba National). Those from North-East Congo came to Kampala, Uganda; those from Shaba in the South came to Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, but sooner or later they headed to Nairobi for the recording studios there. In 1985 the Kenyan government under Daniel Arap Moi cracked down on expatriate bands and groups like Les Mangelepa were forced to leave or disband." Tracklisting for the mix is over at matsulimusic.podomatic.com DOWNLOAD MIX
If you like what you hear then you will be pleased to know that there are a limited number of these featured Sango singles still available to buy. For just £40 including worldwide postage you get any five of the following titles: ARTIST :: TITLE :: LABEL :: CATELOGUE NO :: DATE Orch. Les Mangelepa :: Dracula pts 1 & 2 :: SANGO :: ASL 7-2250 :: 1980 Orch Baba National :: Assana-Nela pts 1 & 2 :: SANGO :: ASL 7-2254 :: 1980 Orch. Viva Makale (Alimasi) :: Akamba pts 1 & 2 :: SANGO :: ASL 7-2256 :: 1980 Orch. Pepelepe :: Baleki Nzela pts 1 & 2 :: SANGO :: ASL 7-3380 :: 1980 Kabras Boys Band :: Khwanyola Hasara /Dinah Nanyama :: SANGO :: PA 7-7219 :: 1980 Okamm Stars Band :: Jinfa Dumbe / George Ambuche :: SANGO :: PA 7-7220 :: 1980 Orch. Simba Wanyika :: Daina pts 1 & 2 :: SANGO :: POL 426 :: 1980 Maroon Commandos :: Charonyi Ni Wasi pts 1 & 2 :: SANGO :: POL 434 :: 1980 Soloist National:-L'Orch. Super Volcano :: Hayati Ndugu Sembuli :: SANGO :: POL 435 :: 1980 Orch. Les Wanyika :: Pamela pts 1 & 2 :: SANGO :: POL 437 :: 1980 Maroon Commandos :: Wacheza Na Maroon pts 1 & 2 :: SANGO :: POL 438 :: 1980 Simba Wanyika :: Mary Tuyamalize pts 1 & 2 :: SANGO :: POL 439 :: 1980 Mlimani Park Orchestra :: Maudhi Y aKila Siku pts 1 & 2 :: SANGO :: POL 444 :: 1980 Them Mushrooms Band :: Mombasa /Kenya Hakuna Matata :: SANGO :: POL 446 :: 1980 Orch. Les Wanyika :: Kwanza Jiulize pts 1 & 2 :: SANGO :: POL 447 :: 1980 Orch. Les Wanyika :: Paulina pts 1 & 2 :: SANGO :: SAN 21 :: 1979 Orch. Super Volcano :: Shida pts 1 & 2 :: SANGO :: SAN 23 :: 1979 Maroon Commandos :: Maona Kijicho pts 1 & 2 :: SANGO :: SAN 24 :: 1979 Orch Les Noirs :: Mayaka pts 1 & 2 :: SANGO :: SAN 26 :: 1979
Strictly first come first served. To order please CONTACT me or visit www.matsulimusic.com
