Papa Noel
Café Noir
(Tumi Music)
-By Bob Morello

Café Noir is a rich brew of African and Cuban sounds that Papa Noel has concocted by blending in new sounds like merengue and soukous. The cross-border collaboration delivers the African and Cuban rumba into the 21^st Century. The beat begins with the Congolese Rumba “Africa Mokili Mobimba,” switching to the Central African Rhythm of “Democratic,” and back to the Congolese Rumba with the excitement continues via “Salsa Africaine” (Afro-Cuban Son), the title track “Café Noir” (Classical African Rumba), plus the horn laden “Sandokan”  (African Rumba), the high energy “Soleil”  (Merengue/Zoukous), and the African Rumba treat “Tomatito.”  The dance-infested album winds down with the final two slices, “Soukous Son” (Soukous Son), and the body moving beat of “Latin Reverie” (Latin Rhythms).  For dance music, it doesn’t get any better than this, thanks to Papa Noel!