Kekele
Congo Life
Kekele is a star studded Congolese band with vocalists Wuta-Mayi, Nyboma, Bumba Massa, and Loko Massengo with Syran Mbenza playing the acoustic guitar. The sound here is stunning, and the orchestration perfect, including beautifully layered acoustic guitars by Syran and Rigo Star, some tasty accordion spicing from Regis Gizavo of Madagascar, and on some tunes, an all-clarinet horn section (played by Caau de Queiroz), harking back to the early days of Congolese rumba. The violins on Loko Massengo's "Bebe Yaourt" is a revelation that this instrument marries well with the smooth vocals of Kkl. "Souvenirs-OK-Jazz," a Medley of Franco hits is the final drop that spills the bucket of sweetness, it just becomes too much.