Transpacific Sound Paradise
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Ken Braun of Sterns Music on the great final years of Congolese legend Franco
Hear this show now:
|
Add or read comments
Franco. Photograph © 1973 by Eliot Elisofon, National Geographic.
Sterns Music, the venerable purveyor of African music has just released Francophonic 2, a beautifully packaged 2-CD box set of music from Congolese musical legend Franco's illustrious final years, the 1980s, featuring stellar performances with his superstar supersized band TPOK Jazz. The release coincided with the 20th anniversary of Franco's death, on October 12, 1989.
Congolese music mega-expert Ken Braun of Sterns produced this as well as an earlier volume of Francophonic, and wrote the extensive (and handsomely illustrated) liner notes. He joins us to play the music and tell a bit of the story of this truly larger than life figure, the greatest star in all of Africa at his peak. Ken also samples a couple of Sterns' recent equally well-produced and documented releases of vintage West African music.
This Week's Playlist:
(* = new)Franco: Bazonzele Mama Ana / Francophonic / Sterns /
Franco: Nostalgie / Francophonic Vol. 2 / Sterns / *
Franco: Sandoka / Francophonic Vol. 2 / Sterns / *
Franco:
Suite Lettre No. 1
/ Francophonic Vol. 2
/ Sterns
/
*
With Tabu Ley
Franco:
Luvumbu Ndoki
/ Franco, Vicky Et L'OK Jazz: Cesar Aboya Yo / Tonton (1964-65)
/ Sonodisc
/
This 1966 Franco single about witchcraft (but generally felt to be a veiled criticism of Congolese despot Mobutu - who banned it when originally released) is also included on the anthology The Very Best Of The Rumba Giant Of Zaire (Union Square records).
Franco: Kimpa Kisangameni / Francophonic Vol. 2 / Sterns / *
Keletigui et ses Tambourinis: Donsoke / Keletigui et Ses Tambourinis:The Syliphone Years, 1968 - 1976 / Sterns / *
Rail Band: Sinsimba / Rail Band Vol 3 / Sterns /
Maya Andrade: Palavra / Storia, Storia / Sony / *
Bebel Gilberto: Bim Bom / All in One / Verve / *
Akiko Yano: Owari No Kisetsu / Akiko Yano / Elektra /
Ahmad Zahir: Baaz Aamady Ai Jaane Man / Various Artists: Afghan Star (Soundtrack) / Silva Screen / *
Smokey Hormel:
Acaua
/ Smokey's Secret Family
/
*
Music bed for concert info
Septeto Nacional Ignacio Pineiro: Alma Rumbera / Mas Cuba Libre / Network /
Emeline Michel: Banda / Reine de Coeur /
David Murray and the Gwo-Kwa Masters: Nwel'o! / Yonn-De / Justin Time /
Playlists feed