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CD Review
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The Pilot, CD Review >>
-by Eric Feber
Congolese guitarist/band-leader Papa Noel's latest, "Café Noir" ("Black Coffee"), is an African celebration of Cuban dance music.
Rumba rhythms were created in Cuba thanks to the indigenous music brought over by Congolese slaves. Cuban music became all the rage in what was then the Belgian Congo, giving birth to "rumba Congo." A love-love relationship exists between Cuban and Congolese musicians, and "Café Noir" is nothing short of a musical love letter between the two countries. Led by the lilting, lyrical guitar of Nedule Montswet - professionally known as Papa Noel because of his Dec. 25 birth - this Havana session jumps and rumbas with Afro-Cuban joie de vivre. The record features percussionist Tomas Dyani Akuru, saxophonist Manu Dibango and singer/songwriter Sultan Zembellat. Noel's plucked, dancing guitar lines replace the usual percussive piano found in most Cuban dance music, and the Havana-based horn and percussion players percolate the rhythms throughout.
"Café Noir" is simply an early musical Christmas present from some of the best musicians found in both worlds. 05/19/07 >> go there
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