Brilliant write-up from Robert Ambrose's Rhythm Connection

Asante sana, Roberto!

Rhythm Connection

Longtime favorite singer Samba Mapangala recently unleashed a killer new album with a fortified Orchestra Virunga. Maisha Ni Matamu (Life is Sweet) covers broad sonic territory, including reggae and other Caribbean influences, but the bedrock Congolese rumbas are, and have been for decades, the band's foundation. Mapangala's Congo roots are enhanced on this release with crucial contributions from guitarists Popolipo, Syran Mbenza, and Huit Kilos, and Komba Bello Mafwala on drums.

The opening title track is straightforward soukous that will fill any dance floor, while the acoustic "Tupendane" is at the other end of the spectrum, a gently swinging, acoustic appeal for harmony among people everywhere. "Tupendane" features John Bashengazi, a musician from the Eastern Congo who plays all of the instruments and sings along with Samba. Other songs range from celebrations to exhortations to care for the environment and each other. "Tupende Miti (Let's Plant Trees)" offers its wisdom in multiple languages, giving a tribute to Wangari Maatai, the Kenyan Nobel Prize winner responsible for widespread reforestation in her country and beyond.

Mapangala has been based in the U.S. for years, but he built his career in Kenya after leaving the Congo. Doug Paterson has a good biography and appreciation here. His many recordings always feature wonderful guitar and his emblematic singing. While this record captures the veteran in good form and the production sounds first-rate, there are no nine-minute rumba classics comparable to those that kept Mapangala at the peak of popularity in East Africa for decades. He is more worldly now, and so is his music, and that is a mixed blessing for this listener.

I was going to post an audio snippet of "Maisha Ni Matamu," but found this fun video that has the whole song, with the gentleman trying to keep up with the young women, on the cold streets of NY. I thought: Enjoy!

P.S. I've decided to start including reviews of new releases on this site, reviving in this format my earlier activity with The Beat magazine. I'll sprinkle them among the sharing posts, looking a bit different; I hope you find them useful. Maisha Ni Matamu (Life is Sweet) can be purchased for download at CDBaby, Amazon and iTunes, if a low bit rate is okay for your ears. Full-bandwidth CDs can be found here.

WRIR-FM's Bill Lupoletti reviews Maisha for his Global A Go Go site

http://www.globalagogo.com/2011/06/samba-mapangala-orchestra-virunga.html

Maryland-based Samba Mapangala is held in the highest regard by fans and musicians as one of the classic singers of soukous, the guitar-driven dance music that swept from the Congo to East Africa in the 70s and across the world in the 80s.  Mapangala has been keeping the flame burning with frequent international tours (he played at the Richmond Folk Festival in 2009) and a series of independently-released recordings.  He attracts some of the top players in the business -- guitarists Beniko Popolipo (Zaiko Langa Langa), Huit Kilos (Afrisa International) and Syran Mbenza (Quatre Etoiles) contribute solos and mi-solos; singers Wuta Mayi (Kekele), Ballou Canta (Soukous Stars) and Suzanna Owiyo (a major Kenyan star) add vocals.  This is an excellent addition to the catalog of a man whose recorded output is consistently strong.  The high-energy numbers here are 1 and 4, 2 and 5 are mid-tempo rumba congolaise, 6 is acoustic and 3 is reggae-influenced.  Soukous certainly isn’t the flavor of the week in African music, but for the literally millions of worldwide fans of this music, Samba Mapangala delivers the goods as always. 

See you Saturday at Cedar Cultural Center!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eXX-5tPJ7c

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

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

How Sweet It Is

By

TOrr

– July 15, 2011Posted in: CD Reviews

Samba Mapangala & Orchestra Virunga - Maisha Ni Matamu

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

Maisha Ni Matamu video featured by Afropop Worldwide

The Official Blog of Afropop Worldwide: Life Is Sweet, NYPD Doesn't Understand

Banning Eyre and Sean Barlow, the directors of Afropop Worldwide know very well what life is like in NYC: the streets are tough but  life can be sweet. Thanks guys, for getting the word out about Samba's new song, just right for summer in the big city! Dancers are Grace Haukwa, Eto'o, and Mambo. As for the cops, we're still waiting for our subpoenas.

Tambour d'Afrique: MAISHA NI MATAMU TUPENDANE WITH SAMBA MAPANGALA FR...

Tambour d'Afrique: MAISHA NI MATAMU TUPENDANE WITH SAMBA MAPANGALA FR...: "LE PALMARES DE LA RUMBA CONGOLAISE VOUS PRESENTE SAMBA MAPANGALA ET L'ORCHESTRE VIRUNGA DANS SON NOUVEL ALBUM: MAISHA NI MATAMU Watch live..."


Fantastic interview with Guy Angrand. Merci mingi Guy!