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Rumba Round Africa – Congo/Latin Action From The 1960s

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Classic work from one of the Conga's greatest bands! Organized in 1958 by Henri Bowane, the man who first introduced the world the mighty Franco, Ry-Co Jazz were veritable ambassadors for Congolese sounds. At their inception they took a steamer to the Central African Republic and didn't return home for more than a decade – traveling and spreading the gospel of the Congo to Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Guinea, Senegal, and even the Caribbean, where the group helped plant the seeds for zouk. The original line-up only lasted two years, but four of its members reorganized the stripped-down band that's captured on this killer collection. Despite the combo's compact size, the music packs a real punch, particularly the simultaneously crisp and fluid guitar work of Jerry "Becaud". Ry-Co Jazz possessed savvy ears and in addition to the expected rumba they also deliver quirky spins on cha cha, calypso, merengue, pachanga, and even some rockabilly on the sublime "Twist With The Docteur". Other tracks include "Bana Ry-Co", "Cunvana", "Gariophona", "Baby Technical", and "Marie Jose".  © 1996-2013, Dusty Groove, Inc.