Bonga Kuenda is a Lisbon-based Angolan expatriate whose first brush with fame was on the football field with Benfica in the 1960s. His star as a world musician now shines brighter than his distinguished athletic career.
Some listeners might immediately assign the acoustic sounds in evidence on Kaxexe to the realm of Buena Vista Social Club, given their current place in the popular music consciousness. Upon a closer listen, though, this atmosphere seems to have more to do with Bonga's choice of instrumentation (acoustic guitars, accordion and dozens of percussion instruments) than the compositions themselves. There is a distinctly African feel to many of the songs, though the Latin flavor is undeniable.
Central to all of this is Bonga's stunning voice. It is brisk, gravelly and totally emotive. It is dark and focused and intensely sensuous. Bonga sings in both Portuguese and Angolan; the contents of his lyrics remain unknown to me, but the performances seem to perfectly communicate the emotional message. During upbeat numbers, Bonga playfully interacts with background singers and choirs, while slow-burning ballads seethe with romantic mystery. Kaxexe is an engaging album that connects quite directly -- there is little to negotiate, and the melodies and rhythms underscore the global reach of Bonga's sound.
