Wendo Kolosoy - Collection (2002-2013)

One of the most welcome returns of recent years has been that of Wendo Kolosoy, one of the pioneers of the Congolese rhumba, whose career began in the late '40s. On this second album of his renaissance, his gritty voice, easily able to leap into falsetto vocals, certainly doesn't sound like that of a 77-year-old man; there's a surprisingly youthful quality and energy to it. The mix of old and new songs (both "Toko Wela Wela" and "Marie Marie" date back many years) in several languages is wonderfully relaxed and appealing, and his backing band, Victoria Bakolo Miziki, with its mix of veteran younger players, gives him a lovely framework for his singing. They can turn up the heat a little as when the brass comes in on "Cherie Kabisa" and "Yebisa-Banganga," the former an insistent and rhythmic love song, with some gorgeous sax work, the latter punctuated by some spiky brass playing. "Essengo Ya Ngai Wendo Na Moundanda" brings in Kolosoy's old partner, Antoine Moundanda, to play thumb piano (the only instrument on the track), "Makanisi Na Wendo" is a purely a cappella workout for Kolosoy and the band, and the album ends on the autobiographical and wistful "Kinshasa." All told, it makes for a very satisfying disc, an exercise in the real Congolese rhumba from one of its early masters. ~ Chris Nickson
2002 - Amba | Tracklist:
01. Wendo Kolosoy - Victoria apiki dalapo (5:15)
02. Wendo Kolosoy - Betela nzoto (7:27)
03. Wendo Kolosoy - Amba (5:37)
04. Wendo Kolosoy - Cherie Kabisa (5:29)
05. Wendo Kolosoy - Yebisa Banganga (6:27)
06. Wendo Kolosoy - Toko wela wela (4:39)
07. Wendo Kolosoy - Essengo ya ngai wendo na moundanda (4:55)
08. Wendo Kolosoy - Marie marie (6:40)
09. Wendo Kolosoy - Bisse bintsie (4:43)
10. Wendo Kolosoy - Makanisi na wendo (3:55)
11. Wendo Kolosoy - kinshasa (6:05)
Anthologie de Wendo Kolosoy, créateur de la rumba congolaise et figure emblématique de l'âge d'or de la musique africaine. Le must pour tout véritable connaisseur. Ce double album (enregistrements de 1992 et 2004) est l'histoire d'un un éternel adolescent qui jusqu'au dernier jour de ses 83 ans a "rumbalé" la vie quotidienne des congolais. Sa vie agitée constitue une véritable épopée, à l'image de son pays, le Congo. Son œuvre continue d'alimenter aujourd'hui une part importante de l'identité congolaise.
2011 - Botyiaki Ntembe | Tracklist:
01. Wendo Kolosoy - Botyiaki ntembe (3:56)
02. Wendo Kolosoy - Victoria apiki drapeau (2:43)
03. Wendo Kolosoy - Kinshasa (6:55)
04. Wendo Kolosoy - Chef obera mpoko (5:05)
05. Wendo Kolosoy - Wendo aye (4:23)
06. Wendo Kolosoy - Efeka madungu (2:49)
07. Wendo Kolosoy - Marie Louise (4:25)
08. Wendo Kolosoy - Mamule (6:04)
09. Wendo Kolosoy - Bakosi liwa ya wendo (4:32)
10. Wendo Kolosoy - Bokilo mabe (2:43)
11. Wendo Kolosoy - Camille (4:54)
12. Wendo Kolosoy - Soko oyoki victoria (4:20)
13. Wendo Kolosoy - Marie marie (3:30)
14. Wendo Kolosoy - Ngombe na wendo (4:39)
15. Wendo Kolosoy - Albertine (4:40)
16. Wendo Kolosoy - Nani akolela wendo (3:33)
17. Wendo Kolosoy - Botyiaki Ntembe (Live Bonus Track) (7:54)
18. Wendo Kolosoy - Bouboul (7:26)
19. Wendo Kolosoy - Mabeley a mama (6:57)
20. Wendo Kolosoy - Madjole djole (5:54)
21. Wendo Kolosoy - Mwana ya moninga (6:36)
22. Wendo Kolosoy - Henriette Masembo (5:05)
23. Wendo Kolosoy - Tat nzambe (6:53)
24. Wendo Kolosoy - Mama Monique (7:44)
25. Wendo Kolosoy - Mama alobi (5:32)
26. Wendo Kolosoy - Bino bananie (6:36)
Banaya Papa Wendo (les enfants de Papa Wendo, en lingala), est le dernier album de Wendo Kolosoy, Don Quichotte de la rumba congolaise qui fit se trémousser les moulins à ventres de Kinshasa, puis très vite, ceux du monde entier. La vie de Wendo Kolosoy n'a jamais manqué de swing et de rebondissements, oscillant entre Cuba (pour la ré-appropriation d'un genre) et Patrice Lumumba, entre les tribulations politiques et les persécutions de l'église qui vit d'un mauvais oeil Marie-Louise, chanson qui avait la réputation lors de sa sortie en 1948 de réveiller les morts. En 2004, lors de l'enregistrement de Banaya Papa Wendo, en live au festival au Carré de Mons, Wendo Kolosoy était encore un jeune homme de soixante-dix-neuf ans, maitre dans l'art des déhanchements, du corps et du cœur, chantant avec espièglerie et fantaisie. Il mourra quatre ans plus tard, rejoignant ainsi ceux qu'il avait contribué à réveiller dans une frénésie de spleen et d'élégance.
2012 - Banaya Papa Wendo | Tracklist:
01. Wendo Kolosoy - Bouboul (6:55)
02. Wendo Kolosoy - Mabeley a mama (6:57)
03. Wendo Kolosoy - Madjolé Djolé (5:54)
04. Wendo Kolosoy - Mwana ya moninga (6:36)
05. Wendo Kolosoy - Henriette Masembo (5:05)
06. Wendo Kolosoy - Tat nzembé (6:53)
07. Wendo Kolosoy - Mama Monique (7:44)
08. Wendo Kolosoy - Mama alobi (5:32)
09. Wendo Kolosoy - Bino Bananie (6:36)
10. Wendo Kolosoy - Banaya papa Wendo (7:26)
Essentially the father of Congolese rhumba, Wendo Kolosoy gave the genre its first major hit in 1948 with "Marie Louise." In a new version, that song is included here, and though its magic powers might have declined (originally, if played at midnight, it was supposed to raise the dead), it's still a gorgeous piece of work. But the same is true of everything here. Accompanied by a young band, Kolosoy gently rhumbas his way through a set of mostly new material (another early hit, "Soki Oyoki Victoria," is also remade) in a voice that might not be as mellifluous as it was 50 years earlier but is still wonderfully musical, although he certainly does love his yodels. Full marks also go to the excellent, inventive guitarists, Vula Missy and Zacharie Onana, who complement the music so eloquently without ever seeming intrusive. While it's a joy to hear the old material again, perhaps the album's highlight is a duet between Kolosoy and Anne-Marie Nzie, another veteran of the early rhumba days (this is actually the first time they've ever sung together), on a completely improvised lyric, although you'd be hard-pressed to know it. This is an album that takes the music back past the soukous it became, all the way to its real roots. Glorious, and a very welcome return for one of Congolese rhumba's true greats. ~ Chris Nickson
2013 - Marie Louise | Tracklist:
01. Wendo Kolosoy - Pépé Kalle (2:45)
02. Wendo Kolosoy - Youyou aleli veka (5:54)
03. Wendo Kolosoy - Marie-Louise (5:31)
04. Wendo Kolosoy - Namonie pasi mingi (3:44)
05. Wendo Kolosoy - Soki olingi ngai (5:06)
06. Wendo Kolosoy - Paul Kamba (5:28)
07. Wendo Kolosoy - Mobembo (5:48)
08. Wendo Kolosoy - Anse duye (4:09)
09. Wendo Kolosoy - Tokutani (5:34)
10. Wendo Kolosoy - Soki oyoki Victoria (4:17)
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