Grand Kalle et l'African Jazz
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Grand Kalle et l'African Jazz (often referred to simply as African Jazz) was perhaps the first full-time, professional band in what was then called Belgian Congo, now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It was founded by Joseph Kabasele Tshamala, popularly know as Grand Kalle.
Among their most popular songs was "Independence Cha Cha Cha" (1960 the pan-African hit which, like much of their recorded output, used Latin American rhythms like the Cuban chachachá. They were, together with among others Franco Luambo's OK Jazz band, pioneers of the African variant of rumba, that later evolved into Soukous.
[edit] Personnel
- Grand Kalle (Joseph Kabasele)
- Dr Nico Kasanda
- Tabu Ley Rochereau
- Sam Mangwana
- Roger Izeidi
- Joseph "Mujos" Mulamba
- Joseph Mwena
- Pamelo "Pablito" Mounk'a
- Déchaud Mwamba
- Paul Mizele
- Willy Kuntima