Grand Kalle |
Joseph Kabasele Tshamala was born 1930, Matadi, Zaire,
The father of modern Zairean music, Kalle's earliest musical
experiences were as a member of the church choir in his
home town of Matadi. Moving to Kinshasa in 1950, he worked
with Orchestre De Tendence Congolaise, a band that specialized
in acoustic polka and mazurka rhythms, derived from records
brought to the country by colonial settlers. In 1953,
keen to develop a genuinely Congolese style, he formed
African Jazz, based on the Afro-Cuban tradition and in
particular the rumba, samba and cha cha, all played in
a distinctively Congolese fashion. Over the years, the
group included many of the future stars of Zairean music,
including Dr. Nico and Tabu Ley, and provided a training
ground for the next generation of Zairean musicians. |
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