If you’re into Cuban music and also into African, this is an
item not to miss. We can’t remember him enough, Franco and his
O.K. Jazz. This LP from the 60’s contains Cha cha cha, Rumba,
Pachanga and Charanga, give it a go.

tracks;

1 Mindondo ya kosuana
2 Baila mi Carabine
3 Colonel Bangala
4 Ven y ven y ven
5 Tango ngai nazalaki somele
6 Retroussons les manches
7 Matinda
8 O.K. Jazz elombe ngangate
9 Course au pouvoir

Most of time, Bolero is too sweet for my ears but Carlos Embales
brings it with some little rough edges that make it exactly right.
Embales is famous for his rumba but for this occasion he treats us
with Bolero, Guaguancó, Pregón and Son, his beats are imbeatable.

tracks;

1 Me duele el corazon
2 El final no Llegara
3 Mayeya o no jueges con los santos
4 Sola y triste
5 La vida es una semana
6 Coco may may
7 Imperdonable
8 Cardenas
9 Llego el dulcerito
10 Crei que era mia
11 Llora como llore
12 Tu, mi Afinidad

Congolese music changed forever after Joseph ‘le Grand Kalle’ Kabasele
started African Jazz in 1953. Kabasele is seen as the father of
Congolese Rumba. Some huge stars made their fame playing with him, among
who guitar wizard Nicholas ‘Dr. Nico’ Kasanda, Pascal Tabu Rochereau
and Cameroonian Saxplayer Manu Dibango. After Kabasele died in 1983,
the great Franco said; “Joseph Kabasele was the founder of Zairean
music and, although we were in competition, he made many things possible
for me.” This album on Productions Souk, has a poor cover which doesn’t
give us a lot of information. The recordings are from early 60’s probably,
if anyone can tell us more, please do. ( photo from Rough Guide )

tracks;

1 Matanga ya mobido
2 Lolita
3 Lipopo ya ba nganga
4 Jamais kolonga
5 Lolo wangai
6 Tangana rumba matata
7 Maria mama na mulamba
8 Information 3171
9 Adios tete
10 Anishayi
11 Djumanango
12 Yoka nainu miziki
13 Pablito de su amor

In August of 2008 I posted an album by Orchesta Revé, this one
is by the same artist but under his own name. Find the other
here . Elio Revé created a sound totally unique.
Born out of ‘Son’, his ‘Changüi’ with it’s almost funky warm bass
and hypnotic rhythms is the most famous. I found some more information
on this_page.

tracks;

1 Negra con pelo
2 Señores silencio
3 Tu eres mi ilusión
4 Mi ritmo changüi
5 A mí
6 Oyan coro
7 Matingó
8 Tu lunar
9 Vamos a Artemisa
10 Manyé pa’Catalina

Rumba is pure Afro-Cuban music for only voices and percussion.
It began with harber workers singing and dancing in their spare
time in the docks of Havana and Matanzas, playing rhythms on
cargo boxes. It comes in three styles, Guaguancó, Yambú and
Columbia. Carlos Embale is one of the main performers of the
guaguancó style, enjoy this rare LP.

tracks;

1 Timbalaye
2 Mañana te espero, niña
3 Donde estabas anoche
4 El mulato rumbero
5 Oh! Humanidad
6 Llora como llore
7 Tonache
8 Chambeleque
9 Genial compositor
10 Gongorongon