O.K. Jazz/Orchestres Bantou & Cercul - Pont Sur Le Congo

OK Jazz - Si Tu Bois Beaucoup


Orchestre Cercul - Honole


VARIOUS ARTISTS
Pont Sur Le Congo
1965

256+ VBR LAME mp3
Vinyl rip & scans from Pathé STX 183


Found this LP in a dollar bin about a decade ago and never gave it too much thought other than playing it a few times here and there on a sunny afternoon. Once in a while I'd cart it out to a gig if I was going to be playing a set of tropical beats but other than that it's pretty much escaped the ravages of entropy compared to a lot of my vinyl. While researching the recent Lumumba post I was surprised the learn that this is actually a very highly prized album among collectors with a copy in G to VG condition fetching anywhere from $50 up. Mainly it's due to the fact it includes hits by a nascent O.K. Jazz (from before the name change to T.P.O.K.) and it features a very early piece by Franklin Boukaka who would later help further Manu Dibango's career before his own life was cut short when he was executed by the authorities in '72 for his "subversive" music.

Wordsound Warrior and Musical Martyr
Franklin Boukaka ca. 1970

There are other reasons why this is a unique record, most of them revolving around the immense political upheaval and the development of Congolese popular music in the 60s. The title refers to the unique geographical situation of the Democratic Republic of Congo capital Kinshasa and the Republic of Congo capital Brazzaville as well as the metaphorical linguistic, racial and cultural bridge between them, the former city represented by O.K. Jazz and the latter by Orchestres Bantou and Orchestre Cercul. For an excellent accounting of this dynamic and turbulent period it's highly recommend you check out Gary Stewart's book Rumba on the River: A History of the Popular Music of the Two Congos published in 2000 (you can read it at Google books here). He covers the musical scene of this time and place in considerable depth and within an historical context reaching back to colonial times.

No bridge so far

One of the keys to the popularity of O.K. Jazz was their synthesis of the Cuban rhumba with traditional Congolese rhythms and melodies which is definitely the name of the game on side one. Side two sees a bit more variety in tempo and rhythm although it's still anchored in Cuban idioms and there's a bit more action from the horn section. All in all a very enjoyable album and an important slice of African musical history.


O.K. Jazz - Tracks 1-6
Orchestre Bantou - Tracks 7,8,11,12
Orchestre Cercul - Tracks 9,10


1 Misele
2 On A Osé Le Dire
3 Polo
4 Bolingo Ya Bougie
5 Si Tu Bois Beaucoup
6 Le Temps Passé
7 Pa' Vacillar
8 Batous Pachanga
9 Mobali Ya Craneur
10 Honole
11 Endiable Merengue
12 Tout Brazza


Take it to the bridge with Soundological HERE or HERE.