AfricaSounds.com is pleased to present this fifth
installment of the Congo Kinshasa Updates by Congolese music authority
Martin Sinnock. We have received terrific feedback from the
previous four installments and are pleased to work in collaboration with
The Beat magazine in presenting these archives on the internet, which
allows us to include many photos and album covers not previously
possible in the print medium due to space constraints. Working
with Martin Sinnock, we plan to continue to showcase his Congo Kinshasa
updates on AfricaSounds. We also recommend that readers subscribe
to The Beat magazine to follow the latest from Martin Sinnock as he
reviews contemporary Congolese music and reissues.
This
fifth article focuses
on the legendary Congolese guitarist, front man and band-leader,
Dizzy Mandjeku,
who has for many years led different combinations of
former OK Jazz musicians in his Bruxelles based group. In May
2007, Dizzy and his group
Odemba OK All Stars.
traveled to England where they performed a couple spectacular live
concerts, which Martin was witness to. Martin's feature discusses
the history behind this band and its musicians, and reports on their
most recent live performances in England. What is so exciting
about this feature is that this group of veterans is
basically as close as one can get to a live version of Orchestre OK
Jazz, the legendary band of
Luambo
Makiadi “Franco”.
Read on to discover how this musical reunion happened and witness
first-hand their musical performances through the eyes of
Martin Sinnock.
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"Dizzy Mandjeku's
Odemba OK All Stars"
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6 June 1956
was the date of the inception of Orchestre OK Jazz, without doubt the
most significant group in the history of Congolese music, and to many of
us the greatest group of all time. During 2005 I was involved in
conversations with a couple of music promoters in which we discussed the
viability of putting together some kind of 50th Anniversary
tribute to OK Jazz and to celebrate the legacy of the music of Luambo
Makiadi “Franco” – African music’s greatest band leader. My usual
scepticism had me warning my colleagues that it would be absolutely
inconceivable to think that we might pull together all of the different
surviving factions of OK Jazz. |
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| Concert Photos -
all copyright Martin Sinnock |
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| The thought of bringing Bana OK from Kinshasa to Europe, with Simaro at the helm and Josky and
Pepe Opetum fronting the vocalists is feasible but, judging by past
experiences, difficult. The idea of linking Bana OK with other former
OK Jazz musicians like Madilu, Sam Mangwana, and different European
based outfits led by Dizzy Mandjeku and Thierry Mantuika is an exciting
prospect, but virtually impossible to achieve. And my own vision of
reviving Youlou Mabiala from his illness and seeing him on a European
stage with his own lineup of TPOK Jazz, along with other maestros like
Papa Noel Nedule, Michelino, Mose Fan-Fan and even the great Tabu Ley
Rochereau making a Special Guest appearance are just a fantastic flight
of fancy that I realise is never going to happen. We did agree,
however, that we should not lose this opportunity to present the music
of OK Jazz to a World Music audience who still seem to place more
emphasis on West African music than the glories of Congolese rumba. |
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| The logical choice to lead the ensemble was
Dizzy Mandjeku who has for many years led different combinations of
former OK Jazz musicians in his Bruxelles based group. Dizzy is one of
several lead guitarists who have been prominent in the history of OK
Jazz. The remarkable thing about Dizzy however is that he is a natural
band-leader and front-man. What is also exceptional is the fact that he
has not only been a major player in OK Jazz but prior to that he also
served important roles in several other significant Congolese rumba
bands. |
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| His early career was spent alongside Johnny BOKELO and his CONGA
68, then Sam Mangwana's "Festival des Maquisards" and solo guitar player
Jean-Paul VANGU, also known as Guvano. This was followed by Les Grands
Maquisards with singer Ntesa Dalienst. Dizzy was then part of Tabu Ley
Rochereau's Afrisa, chef d'orchestre of Sam Mangwana's African All
Stars, and also prominent in Verckys Kiamuangana's Orchestre Veve. In
addition to that spectacular career history he also led his own group
Kossa-Kossa - a fine band who were adept at performing cover versions of
other groups' hits, as well as composing their own songs. |
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| During the final years of Franco's life, Dizzy
had been artistic director for OK Jazz, soloist, and Franco's personal
adviser since Kinshasa and continued until Franco died in Belgium in
1989. From then on he continued Franco's musical work with former OK
Jazz musicians who live in Europe. Based in Belgium he has also pursued
a successful career as an accompanist to many World Music artists
including most notably Zap Mama and Waldemar Bastos. In between
performing sessions and touring he has also performed sporadic concerts
fronting the cream of the Belgian based veteran Rumba musicians. |
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| For
some time he has presented his band using the name Odemba OK All Stars -
Odemba being the name of the particular style of Rumba popularised by
Franco. Staying true to the Franco blueprint, and performing mostly
tunes from the OK Jazz repertoire Dizzy Mandjeku is clearly the
bandleader with the perfect credentials to front an OK Jazz and Franco
tribute. At present, Dizzy and Odemba are polishing up their own
compositions. |
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Didan, Iblo, Bilolo, Muky |
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| For the
proposed 2006 50th anniversary tour of the UK it was
suggested to Dizzy that he invite other former OK Jazz members to sit in
with his regular Odemba players. Unfortunately the UK World Music
circuit was not sufficiently enthusiastic or aware of the significance
of the OK Jazz musical legacy and disappointingly local concert
promoters were unable to commit to the tour. As time drifted by it was
clear that the anniversary would pass on 6 June 2006 with no concerts
and virtually no media attention, save for a few die-hard radio
broadcasters who marked the date by playing OK Jazz tributes on the
radio. |
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Didan, Iblo, Bilolo, Muky |
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| The idea of presenting Dizzy’s band to the UK was carried over
to 2007 and eventually three dates were confirmed. Sadly there was
still insufficient enthusiasm from local promoters to arrange a full
tour. Again the simple truth is that not enough people understand the
significance of OK Jazz and those promoters that were interested were
unable to afford the costs of a large(ish) Congolese orchestre. Dizzy
initially planned a great lineup that included guitarist Papa Noel
Nedule and singer Madilu joining the impressive Odemba lineup.
Unfortunately Nedule dropped out due to commitments with his own Bana
Congo group and at the last minute Madilu had to go to Brazzaville and
was unable to attend rehearsals. They were disappointing omissions but
in the end nobody that attended the concerts seemed to miss them – which
is testament to the quality of the Odemba musicians.
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| The group
that arrived in England in May 2007 was only a twelve piece but it
included the ideal combination of musicians to present a show that
accurately and respectfully paid tribute to Franco and the OK Jazz
legacy. Front of stage were male singers Malage de Lugendo and Lokombe
Ntal, and female duo Nana and Baniel. All four are well known for their
time with OK Jazz but it is worth mentioning that Lokombe was equally
known for his career with Dizzy and Dalienst in Les Grands Maquisards.
Whilst with that group Lokombe penned the song “Deuxieme Bureau Nganda”
a phrase that he had heard from a journalist. The song expounded the
problem of men who frequent their “second office” meaning their
girl-friend, rather than concentrating on looking after their wife.
After the huge success of Lokombe’s song the phrase “deuxieme bureau”
became synonymous with “extra-marital affair” throughout French speaking
countries. |
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| Eventually Vieux Lokombe was awarded the title “Seigneur”,
only the second Congolese vocalist, after Tabu Ley Rochereau, to receive
this prestigious title. Dizzy’s choice of singers in Odemba is
perfectly balanced and Malage does a fine job acting as front-man with
his distinctive voice and natural showmanship. He is able to captivate
the audience with not only his vocal charm but also with his personality
which has greatly matured since his post-OK Jazz days when he was a
member of Zaïko Langa Langa. The voice retains its special and
distinctive quality and his personality has become modest and quite
self-effacing. And both Nana and Baniel make a fine vocal contrast as
well as giving the stage an air of sophisticated feminine charm and
grace. |
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| A stripped
down guitar section is perhaps an economic necessity but in no way does
it detract from the power of the band. Toms Ntale is a young guitarist
who has made a conscious effort to study the evolution of the electric
guitar in Congolese music. His main source of inspiration has been Zaïko innovator Pepe Manuaku and this has led Toms to become an
occasional guest soloist in the current incarnation of Zaïko Langa Langa.
In addition he has played with several young European based groups. It
is however his work alongside Dizzy Mandjeku that has clearly taught him
the refinements of classic rumba and together they have great rapport
and are able to authoritatively replicate the OK Jazz sound. |
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Drummer
Alonzo is a regular fixture of Bruxelles based bands, works frequently
with Toms, sits in with Zaïko, and for many years has performed with
Dizzy’s band. Filling out the rhythm section is bass guitarist Djo
Mali, a legend of Viva la Musica, Zaïko Langa Langa, Langa Langa Stars,
Choc Stars, and in my opinion one of the finest bass players to come
from the Congo. |
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| If anyone
has any doubts about the intention of Dizzy Mandjeku to perform
authentic Rumba then the fact that he travelled to the UK with a four
piece horn section should allay any fears. Possibly the biggest
criticism that I’ve heard about Congolese music post-1970 has been the
gradual eradication of the horn section in favour of the dreaded
Japanese electric keyboard. By retaining real brass instrumentation
Dizzy Mandjeku firmly flies his Odemba flag and proves that the swinging
sight and sound of a rumba horn section can stir an audience infinitely
more than any electronic device, however sophisticated and versatile it
might be. Between them trumpeters Bilolo and Muky and saxophonists
Didan and Iblo have played in many of the major rumba bands from OK
Jazz, through Cercul Jazz, Afrisa, Conga Succes and Veve. |
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| At the
beginning of May the Odemba OK All Stars performed their two UK
concerts, the first in front of a small crowd of about 100 in a sleepy
seaside town called Poole in Dorset. The concert had been booked by a
courageous guitar playing promoter who simply wanted to have this
wonderful band perform in his home town because he liked them. He
seemed unperturbed that the show had failed to muster a large audience,
but instead was thrilled to see at close hand the guitar skills of a
Congolese legend. |
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| The
performance served its role as a warm-up for the band who moved along
the coast to Brighton in Sussex for the second show a couple of days
later. Billed as part of the famous annual Brighton Arts Festival
the concert took place in a small but well appointed venue that held
approximately 300. Tickets had sold out as soon as they went on
sale and had there been a larger venue available I believe that at least
twice as many would have attended. There was a real buzz of
expectation from both audience and musicians and the show proved to be
even better than we could have hoped for. The BBC mobile recording
unit had set up their equipment and four tracks were broadcast a few
weeks later on their late night World Music show. The Brighton
Festival organisers awarded the concert a trophy as one of the
highlights of the entire month long festival. |
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| With its repertoire of classic OK Jazz
songs Dizzy’s Odemba convinced the audience and the attending
journalists that they are more than capable of presenting Franco’s music
in a vibrant and respectfully authentic way. “Les On Dit”, “Massu”,
“Infidelité Mado”, “Papa” (Chacun Pour Soi), “Azda”, “Pesa Position”,
“Bon Samaritain”, “Oh Miguel”, “Ayant Droit”, “Muzi”, “Mario” and
“Bijoux” are the titles that they played that night; and should they
wish to extend and vary their repertoire it would be easy for them to
perform titles from Dizzy’s own collection of compositions. Several
people who attended the performance told me that it was the best show
that they had ever seen in Brighton, and at time of writing the group
are preparing to return to the UK to perform another show as part of the
celebrated Africa Oyé festival in Liverpool in the North West of
England. |
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inconceivable and quite disgraceful to think that back in June 2006 the
50th anniversary of OK Jazz passed without any major tribute
event. My belief is that Dizzy Mandjeku and his Odemba OK All Stars
will eventually be back on the road in Europe, and hopefully one day in
the USA, where they will be heralded as the revivalists and guardians of
Franco’s Odemba style. The music of OK Jazz is still very much
alive and the memory of Luambo Makiadi is that much fresher in our minds
thanks to Dizzy Mandjeku and his musicians.
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| Coming Soon...More "Congo
Kinshasa Updates" on AfricaSounds
This concludes the fifth in a series of
"Congo Kinshasa Updates" by Martin Sinnock. AfricaSounds is
thrilled to be working alongside Martin on this special project.
We hope that you have enjoyed the commentary and corresponding images
from Martin Sinnock's extensive Congolese music archives. We are
please to announce that the "Congo Kinshasa Updates" will continue
with additional features soon. Please note that the original
texts are from The Beat magazine, a highly recommended bi-monthly print
publication. Link: http://www.getthebeat.com |
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Martin Sinnock can be heard broadcasting his radio show "Viva
La Musica" on Totally Radio
- [LINK]
Check out Martin Sinnock’s regular column for
The Beat dating back to 1996.
Visit
www.totallyradio.com to hear his Internet
radio broadcasts on “The African & Global Beat” and “The Rough Guide
Radio Show”.
Contact Martin Sinnock at
martin.sinnock@sandersonweatherall.com
or write to PO Box 406, Croydon CR9 1XR, England. |
Additional Features of AfricaSounds by Martin Sinnock:
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