V.A.: Roots Of OK Jazz
Crammed Discs V.A. : Roots Of OK Jazz
-Congo classics 1955-1956 (CO,pub.2010)****°
The orchestra 'OK jazz' was formed in June 1956 forming almost like a genre on its own with hundreds of LPs. Before they were formed by Lokanga La Ndju Pene Luambo aka Franco a expansion of history preceded this formation and music, formed by an active mixture of influences. The booklet mentions the Loningisa label (Shake it up!) that was most attractive to the street people (“yankees”) who thought rock'n roll was an alibi to play loud, only to mix this idea with mambo and chachacha to form more answers to the Cuban music as a musical form of a returning home celebration with a free mind in its expressions, and political independence as its final goal born from a naturally grown desire and result. Also according to the booklet, the popular hits of the time were played and in a couple of times also destroyed by DJs and because they could not replace the needle every two songs as the 78 record players demanded, so many more recordings were made and printed in a relatively short time, allowing a renewal and expression of many different ideas within some formats. With Franco's hit “indépendence Cha-Cha” the Congolese rumba turned into and towards a certain jazz format. These early creative steps were wonderfully documented and compiled on this 20-tracks CD.
How the jazz influence came to Congo or to OK Jazz is not really explained. But it is clear that some of the harmony vocals used had something of the 30s jazz records or music hall entertainment (besides African harmony singing??), while the electrified guitar is a story on its own (with influence coming from older djangling jazz-guitar and in that time newer rock'n roll elements). Not all songs has a real jazz influence. Different to jazz is in any case that here each instrument recorded counted to the compositions equally, making a beautiful creative arranged group-composed sound with creative contributive sounds and ideas, and only occasional seconds of solos where not any of such contributions is really repeated while the general foundation remains based on strict rhythmic and song based patterns. There are shown many improvisational skills to create surprises in harmony. Before falling back on what is known alone, the tracks sound fresh and inspired. Of course there are tracks that go most for the complete enjoyment of songs and rhythms before all details, but even then some freedoms of accents and different arrangements come forward spontaneously. Instruments like guitar, clarinet, sax, but also the electric organ called solovox !! (12) and wind instruments can be heard. Also heard more often is a stomping upright bass.
Like the previous Crammed Disc compilation : highly recommended ! An expansion in styles for the Congo rumba-roots expressions.
As I am used to notice with Crammed discs, the original 78 rpm discs were carefully digitally restored resulting in an optimal sound for the compilation.
