Joseph Kabasele and the Creation of Surboum African Jazz

Dr. Nico and Franco have come to define the sound of Congolese rumba and soukous with their intricate guitar style, but it’s safe to say that it was Joseph Kabasele, aka Le Grand Kallè, who gave birth to that unique mix of Latin rhythms and sweet, meandering melodies. Not only was he a great singer and band leader — his band African Jazz was the most influential band for decades, and helped launch the careers if future superstars like Dr Nico, Manu Dibango, Tabu Ley Rochereau and Sam Mangwana — but he also left his mark on the Congolese music scene by opening the first Congolese-owned music label, Surboum African Jazz. This compilation offers a snapshot of the early days of Congolese rumba, a sound of a jubilant, newly free nation, which took pride in its own indigenous music while also exploring other modern, global styles. Included here are also three of the first ever published tracks by Cameroonian sax player and composer Manu Dibango, such as “Hallelouia,” an early example of the infectious grooves that would propel him to global stardom a decade later.