Last Band Standing
Released
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Orchestre Les Mangelepa helped forge the sound of modern rumba, drawing on their own Congolese heritage and the multitude of sounds they encountered in Nairobi — Benga from the shores of Lake Victoria, Chakacha from the coast, laid-back Swahili rhythms from Tanzania to name a few — which in the 1970s had become a vibrant hub for musicians from all over the region. This was a transformational period for East African music, as recording studios and labels proliferated, musicians toured and incorporated different styles into their own sound. Orchestre Les Mangelepa are the embodiment of this moment in East African history, and Strut’s Last Band Standing celebrates their legacy by bringing together their biggest hits and new material. Their slick bass lines, uplifting vocal harmonies, phenomenal horn section, and whirling soukous guitars are a joy to listen to.