|
|
 |
CD Review
|
| Click Here to go back. |
Virginian Pilot, CD Review >>
- By Eric Ferber
Congolese guitarist/band leader PapaNoel "Cafe Noir" ("Black Coffee"), is an African celebration of Cuban dance music.
Rumba rhythms were created in Cuba thanks to the indig enous 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 "Cafe Noir" is nothing short of a musical love letter between the two countries. Led by the lilting, lyrical guitar of Ned- ule 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 Tbmas Dyani Akuru, saxophon ist Manu Dibango and singer/ songwriter Sultan Zembellat. Noel's plucked, dancing guitar lines replace the usual percus sive piano found in most Cuban dance music, and the Havana- based horn and percussion players percolate the rhythms throughout.
"Cafe Noir" is simply an early musical Christmas present from some of the best musicians found in both worlds.
05/18/07
|
| Click Here to go back. |
|
 |
|
|
|
