Wow! Samba in good company: Radio Milele FM Nairobi billboard campaign showing classic rumba greats with Samba at far left, along with Tabu Ley, Mbilia Bel, Kanda Bongo Man, Tshala Muana, Franco. Photo by John Nyambu
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Samba takes his place among the legends of Congolese rumba
Wow! Samba in good company: Radio Milele FM Nairobi billboard campaign showing classic rumba greats with Samba at far left, along with Tabu Ley, Mbilia Bel, Kanda Bongo Man, Tshala Muana, Franco. Photo by John Nyambu
Friday, July 15, 2011
Rave review for Maisha ni Matamu by World Music Central
One of world music's most prominent online magazines had this to say about Samba's new album: written by Tom Orr. Yes, it's sweet, Tom and so are you! Thank you!
worldmusiccentral.org
Samba Mapangala & Orchestra Virunga Maisha Ni Matamu (Life Is Sweet) (Virunga Records VR003, 2011)
Still supple, spine tingling and, yes, sweet after 30 years on the scene, the voice of East African sensation Samba Mapangala is in fine form on his latest album. And he’s still the master of combining Congolese, Kenyan and Tanzanian rumba with the similarly chiming rhythms of Kenyan benga, resulting in one irresistible dance music. He dubbed it the Virunga sound and it was a sensation at Nairobi’s Starlight Club in the early ‘80s before Mapangala brought it to the world. Now he and his Orchestra Virunga- which on this recording includes such legendary participants as guitarists Syran Mbenza and Huit Kilos, vocalist Wuta Mayi and drummer/animateur Komba Bellow Mafwala -return with a set of new songs for maximum dancing and listening pleasure.
The title track will instantly have you believing its sentiments to be true, “Zanzibar” pays melodic tribute to nonagenarian singing legend Bi Kidude, “Jirani” celebrates neighborliness in a reggae-laced style (and gets reprised as an instrumental at the end) and “Nipigie Simu” sports a lively Latin feel complete with montuno piano pattern.
The need to protect the environment and its wildlife is addressed on “Tupande Miti” (with guest voices Suzanna Owiyo and Ballou Canta) and “Les Gorilles Des Montagnes” respectively, and the soothing, harmonica-laced “Tupendane (Let’s Love Each Other)” is as much a showcase for multi-instrumentalist and singer John Bashengezi as for Mapangala’s tenderly shared lead vocal.
Maisha Ni Matamu delightfully provides the sort of sweetness that won’t harm your teeth or put pounds around your middle but fulfills your need for music to move you each and every day of your life.
Buy the album or MP3 downloads: CDBaby.com
worldmusiccentral.org
How Sweet It Is
– July 15, 2011Posted in: CD Reviews
Samba Mapangala & Orchestra Virunga - Maisha Ni Matamu
Still supple, spine tingling and, yes, sweet after 30 years on the scene, the voice of East African sensation Samba Mapangala is in fine form on his latest album. And he’s still the master of combining Congolese, Kenyan and Tanzanian rumba with the similarly chiming rhythms of Kenyan benga, resulting in one irresistible dance music. He dubbed it the Virunga sound and it was a sensation at Nairobi’s Starlight Club in the early ‘80s before Mapangala brought it to the world. Now he and his Orchestra Virunga- which on this recording includes such legendary participants as guitarists Syran Mbenza and Huit Kilos, vocalist Wuta Mayi and drummer/animateur Komba Bellow Mafwala -return with a set of new songs for maximum dancing and listening pleasure.
The title track will instantly have you believing its sentiments to be true, “Zanzibar” pays melodic tribute to nonagenarian singing legend Bi Kidude, “Jirani” celebrates neighborliness in a reggae-laced style (and gets reprised as an instrumental at the end) and “Nipigie Simu” sports a lively Latin feel complete with montuno piano pattern.
The need to protect the environment and its wildlife is addressed on “Tupande Miti” (with guest voices Suzanna Owiyo and Ballou Canta) and “Les Gorilles Des Montagnes” respectively, and the soothing, harmonica-laced “Tupendane (Let’s Love Each Other)” is as much a showcase for multi-instrumentalist and singer John Bashengezi as for Mapangala’s tenderly shared lead vocal.
Maisha Ni Matamu delightfully provides the sort of sweetness that won’t harm your teeth or put pounds around your middle but fulfills your need for music to move you each and every day of your life.
Buy the album or MP3 downloads: CDBaby.com
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