Guest post today by Benn loxo listener, CC Smith, editor/publisher of The Beat Magazine in Los Angeles, CA:

“Last month I traveled to England to attend several concerts by Samba Mapangala and Orch. Virunga, meeting up with Ethan Bloomberg of Boston, (Samba’s U.S. representative and advisor and East African music connoisseur), and Martin Sinnock, one of the world’s leading experts and collectors of Congolese music, and columnist for my magazine, The Beat. Samba has just put out a new album called Song and Dance, and the short tour of England was to support the release. As an extra added attraction, Orch. Virunga this time included guitarists Syran Mbenza and Bopol Mansiamina, who came in from Paris to assist their longtime friend and colleague.

I first heard Samba’s music in London in 1984 and was instantly a fan. The stunning, pitch-perfect a cappella intro to “Malako Disco” still knocks me out, and the song is as fresh as ever, blending Congo dance music with distinctive Kenyan elements, like the skittering hi-hat cymbal riding atop the flowing music.

Samba is Congolese but made his reputation in Kenya. He had a good deal of success in Europe, America and throughout East Africa in the ’80s and ’90s, but since relocating to the States 9 years ago, his music was put on hold while he established a life for himself and his family. His last newly recorded album was Ujumbe in 2001, so the new disc is a long-overdue treat, and I dearly hope presages the renaissance of his career. We need him back!

The first night I saw them, at the Amersham Arms in SE London on Mar. 21, was a bit rough: the sound was bad, the audience sparse, and the 9-member band, having only played together for a week, still trying to gel. Still, it was an enjoyable performance: Samba still has his magnificent voice, and with two backup singer/dancers, put on a lively show. The next evening, in Brighton, was even better: better attended, better sound, better ambience, but it was the third show, in Graffham, East Sussex, a tiny country town, when the group actually became a band. Two hundred people filled the rustic hall and were dancing from the first note. Syran, who had put down his Kekele-acoustic guitar to pick up his electric again for this tour, was conducting the orchestral maneuvers with guitar cues and glances, and ripping off mind-blowing leads.

The highlight for me came when they trotted out the old warhorse, “Malaika” — I’m thinking, oh, geez, do we have to hear this again? — but Samba, reaching deep down in his soul, brought out such intense emotion that the song was completely transformed, and Syran responded with one of the most profound, heartfelt solos I’ve ever heard him play.

For more information on Samba Mapangala and the new album Song and Dance: www.virungarecords.com. Martin Sinnock and Ethan Bloomberg have recorded an Internet radio broadcast on Samba that will be available April 7.”

Thanks for the great music, cc. It’s great that so many guest posts have been coming in lately. Keep it up! Even if you don’t want to write but have a song you’d like to share, let me know.

Samba Mapangala - Adija