ON ENTRE OK, ON SORT KO  click for more Franco   or    even more on mirror site

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

MANDOLA                                  Download

MANDOLA           Streaming RealAudio

 

From the famous "TELE ZAIRE" video tapes comes this emotional song "MANDOLA",  composed by SIMARO and sung with a very desperate voice by DJO MPOYI, one of TPOK Jazz's singers who is no longer with us unfortunately. I might try to look for words to describe this music, but I believe GRAEME EWENS has done this already, much better than I could ever do in his book "CONGO COLOSSUS",  which is still available from Sterns Music and other distributors in Europe and USA. This is what he has to say about this period of TPOK JAZZ,  quote: "These are some of the most complete works in the OK Jazz archive. The band played with a mature, solid confidence and here can be heard the full majesty of OK Jazz. (...) The albums in this set show the whole spectrum of full-bore TPOK Jazz: guitars entwined in exquisite embrace, harmonic force from the front-line vocalists embellished by florid horn parts, all powered by a deep, resonating rhythmic drive and arranged with a dynamic tension which prolonged the release of the sebene almost until bursting point......."  Well. how's that? I think the way he writes is almost a new song on it's own..... Another song from this period is "SANDOKA", which you can find below.

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FREINS  A MAIN                     Download

FREINS A MAIN  Streaming RealAudio

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NON                                            Download

NON                    Streaming RealAudio

 

From the LP "CHEZ FABRICE A BRUXELLES" are these two songs "FREINS  A MAINS" (Hand-brake) and  "NON" , a long complaint of Franco about the behaviour of women chasing married men. It is a remarkable song, because it's the first time Franco mentions one of his singers (Madilu) by name in a song. TPOK JAZZ is in great shape in 1983 and playing with a full, matured sound. These songs can also be found on these CD's : Kaluila [Gefraco] KL 068 - F 170 Franco et son T.P. O.K. Jazz: Les Editions Emongo - 3éme anniversaire de la mort du grand maitre Yorgho  SonoDisc [Esperance]  CDS 6851 Franco & son T.P. OK Jazz: 3éme anniversaire de la mort du grand maitre Yorgho       01 Très Impoli [x] (Franco) 16:53 Franco et son T.P. O.K. Jazz [POP 28]       02 Kadima [x] (Simaro) 10:04 Franco et son T.P. O.K. Jazz [NIL]       03 Non [x] (Franco) 18:34 Franco et son T.P. O.K. Jazz [NIL]       04 Freins à Mains [x] (Franco) 11:05 Franco et son T.P. O.K. Jazz [NIL]       05 Ayant Droit [x] (Wuta Mayi) 10:03 Franco et son T.P. O.K. Jazz [FRAN 004]       06 Heritier [x] (Ndombe) 10:32 Franco et son T.P. O.K. Jazz [FRAN 004]

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This site is to remember Grand Master LUAMBO MAKIADI FRANCO who passed away on October 12, 1989. To give you an idea of the music made by FRANCO and his band the TPOK JAZZ  (= Tout Puissant Orchestre Kinois) I have made some clips from their music made over a period of over 30 years.  Where possible I have indicated from which LP or CD it is taken, to enable you to make a choice out of their enormous  repertoire that has been released. Special attention is given to  Franco's guitar solos, as he is considered to be one of the best African guitarists. Of course all this great music could never have been made without the other guitarists in the O.K. Jazz band. It's this subtle intertwining of the guitars (and there are many: solo, mi-solo and rhythm ) which makes this music so fascinating. Franco was known to have a fine nose for finding talented young singers and guitarists and he was always the coordinator and organizer in his band  (as well as The BOSS!). Therefore I am not sure that all the solos you hear are played by Franco himself, but for sure he was involved in all the tracks.


 

TOSAMBI BAPEJIYO RAISON NA QUARTIER (1976)         Download

TOSAMBI BAPEJIYO RAISON NA QUARTIER         Streaming RealAudio

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Franco was sometimes "TRÈS FACHÉ" (= very angry), like in this song, although I don't know about what.... From CD SONODISC CDS 6863  From the CD "20e ANNIVERSAIRE" 6 Juin  1956 - 6 Juin 1976 comes this beautiful song "TOSAMBI BAPEJIYO RAISON NA QUARTIER" . The guitar solo sounds very much like the one on the old vinyl single "MASSI Pt.2" which you can find on my "AMBIANCE KIRI - KIRI" site,  where you can find some more sweet old Congolese Rumba sounds.  From CD : SONODISC AFRICAN 53383  "20e ANNIVERSAIRE VOLUME 2"

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More about Franco on Willie Chopa's   "Franco  & TPOK JAZZ site "


 
 
 
 
 

comments & suggestions? (remove x & q from address before sending! and change > into @)  to:                     xafroq>zeelandnet.nl

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Click here for something completely different: HAMMOND SOLOS and Hammond Organ in African, Afro-Cuban, Blues and Reggae Music