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Concert Review
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Washington Post, Concert Review >>
Washington Post
PERFORMING ARTS
Monday, August 7, 2006
Kekele
On its third and latest CD, "Kinavana," the Paris-based Congolese band Kekele makes explicit the role of Cuban music in its sound by covering songs associated with the late Cuban guitarist Guillermo Portabales and by working with a Latino string section, trumpeter and flutists. Friday night at the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage, Kekele, without those guests, still served up rumba, which while not as multicultural as their studio work, was nevertheless gorgeously melodic and eminently danceable. Kekele's touring version now consists of three vocalists and an acoustic guitarist, all in their fifties. A second acoustic guitarist plus an electric bassist, accordionist, drummer and percussionist joined them. Three members of Kekele had been in Les Quatre Etoiles, a combo known for its speedy electric guitar and keyboard beats. Now those all-stars reach back into Congo's musical past for a more leisurely approach, but with enough energy to keep folks moving. Wuta Mayi, Nyboma Mwan'dido and Loko Massengo were the focal point. Outfitted in bright matching jackets with batik designs, the trio alternated leads in Lingala and Spanish, trilled exquisite harmonies and added lively Africa-meets-Motown choreography. On "Delali," Dido's sweet, high voice carried the melody as guitarist-arranger Syran Mbenza, sitting on a stool, unobtrusively propelled the sonics. For the quick-tempoed "Fungola Motema," the rest of the unit adeptly balanced Mbenza's insinuating high notes with bottom-end polyrhythms, and supporting notes from both ends of the scale. Kekele's vocalists finished their last song by pointing to their watches at 7 p.m., sadly having to adhere to the Kennedy Center's strict one-hour limit for these free evening shows.
-- Steve Kiviat 08/07/06
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