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CD Review
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Fly, CD Review >>
If like me you always thought the rumba was a strictly Cuban affair then Cafe Noir will show you otherwise
--by Joe Kent
Never have two musical continents collided with such powerful results as those of Africa and Latin America. While the output of Brazil and Cuba is usually the first to come to mind, here Papa Noel shows that the Congo should not be overlooked. Café Noir documents the two-way nature of that cross border connection through an addictive blend of African and Cuban rumba.
Papa Noel was born on Christmas Day 1940, hence the stage name, and is a veteran of the golden era of Congolese music. Before the 40s African rumba was performed on log drums and thumb pianos but that began to change as Cuba’s take on it all started to sneak back across the ocean. Electric guitars and Latin brass instruments started popping up and the impact of son and cha cha cha took hold. Local musicians also began to look deeper into Congo’s rural musical traditions and African jazz also had a role in shaping the modern rumba.
Papa Noel bore witness to many of those changes and even implemented some of them himself; here he is back to show us what he has learnt. Café Noir features songs in both Spanish and Ligala with the later representing a refreshing change for those for those used to Cuban voices. As well as Congolese and various other takes on the rumba the album also manages to squeeze in some ‘Merengue Zoukous’ and ‘Soukous Son’; a sumptuous and compelling collection of music.
Papa Noel & Guests will be touring in June and July; guests on the album include Manu Dibango, Coto, Sultan, Rey Crespo and Abby Surya. 03/23/07 >> go there
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