muzycy:
Syran Mbenza: guitars
Vangu Tunglia: guitars
Wuta Mayi: lead vocal, backing vocal
Elba 'Top A' Kuluma: lead vocal, backing vocal
Ballou Canta: lead vocal, backing vocal
Ketsia: backing vocal
Bopol Mansiamina: rhythm guitar
Flavien Makabi: bass guitar
Jimmy Mvondo Mvele: saxophone
Komba Bellow Mafwala: drum, percussion
Oeba Sungu: congas
Viviane Arnoux: accordion

Editor' info:

Syran Mbenza & Ensemble Rumba Kongo: Immortal Franco
Franco was Africa's unrivalled guitar legend whose music changed the sound of a continent. Twenty years after Franco's death, Congolese guitar maestro Syran Mbenza brings together a host of stars to celebrate his incredible musical legacy. Led by Mbenza, widely acknowledged as one of Africa's best guitarists, this album features the honeyed voice of Wuta Mayi and bassist Flavien Makabi from Franco's OK Jazz band.

Immortal Franco: Africa's Unrivalled Guitar Legend
Twenty years after his untimely passing at the age of 51, Franco Luambo Makiadi continues to cast his larger-than-life shadow over African music. Certainly Africa's greatest, if not the sole, truly international pan-African music star, by the time of his death in 1989 Franco's music was heard throughout Africa, all over Europe and in North America and the Caribbean as well. His band OK Jazz was arguably the best Africa ever produced, as well as one of the longest-running, with a continual influx and departure of musicians during a thirty-four-year history.
The sheer number of Franco's recordings is overwhelming in number and in stylistic variety, spanning the Cuban-inspired 1950s, the rumba lingala of the 1960s, the authenticité and acoustic recordings of the 1970s, and the expansive big bands and lengthy songs of the 1980s. His music encompassed and reflected all the phases of Congolese pop music over four decades, creating and absorbing trends and influences, as well as establishing innovations and new directions.
Such a gargantuan musical legacy deserves to be celebrated, and this album brings together a host of Congolese talent to do just that. Led by Syran Mbenza, best known for his involvement with Quatre Etoiles and Kekele and widely acknowledged as one of Africa's best guitarists, and saxophone supremo Jimmy Mvondo, this album celebrates Franco's body of work and commemorates .......
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Franco Luambo Makiadi to legendarny afrykański gitarzysta, który w znaczący sposób wpłynął na muzykę tego kontynentu. Dwadzieścia lat po jego śmierci jeden z czołowych muzyków z Konga - Syran Mbenza, przywołuje to niesamowite, muzyczne dziedzictwo.
Urodzony w 1950. w Kinszasie Mingiedi �Syran� Mbenza wraz ze swoim zespołem Ensemble Rumba Kongo zapraszają na swoistą afrykańską degustację, podczas której obcują obok siebie elementy tak dobrze znane folkowym fanom, partie transowej gitary, niewymuszone saksofonowe ornamentacje, kompozycje wypełnione przysłowiową �positive vibration�.
Mamy oto wyjątkową okazję do delektowania się z lekka zaprawioną nostalgią afrykańską radością i pogodą ducha.
Płyta do odkrywania, próbowania, smakowania i rozkoszowania się nie tylko samym dźwiękiem, także unikalnym nastrojem.
Muzyka, jaką nam proponują jest pełna radości, rytmu, spokoju.
autor: Piotr Szukała