It's already 40 years ago that Joseph Kabasele 'aka Grand Kallé' left us. He coached artists like Rochereau Tabu Ley, Dr Nico, Manu Dibango, Pépé Kalle, Dechaud Mwamba and many others. He known as the father of Modern Congolese music because of introducing the system of having a proper band in our music (electric guitars, saxophones, trompette, etc.). He also mixed Cuban Rumba with traditional music, which made Congolese rumba. He was the first Congolese bandleader to create his own record label "Surboum".




It's sad that he isn't getting enough credit for his work. The press and musicians often being quiet when 11 febuary passes.



tribute to Grand Kalle by Cuban artists

It's already 40 years ago that Joseph Kabasele 'aka Grand Kallé' left us. He coached artists like Rochereau Tabu Ley, Dr Nico, Manu Dibango, Pépé Kalle, Dechaud Mwamba and many others. He known as the father of Modern Congolese music because of introducing the system of having a proper band in our music (electric guitars, saxophones, trompette, etc.). He also mixed Cuban Rumba with traditional music, which made Congolese rumba. He was the first Congolese bandleader to create his own record label "Surboum".




It's sad that he isn't getting enough credit for his work. The press and musicians often being quiet when 11 febuary passes.



tribute to Grand Kalle by Cuban artists

So he introduced thr rhumba we know from Congolese music? Talented guy, I wished that generation of musicians had a chance to profit from their hard work. A lot of them died poor despite being super talented

Yes, because before artists were just doing Kebo, Polka Piké, Zebola, Agbaya, French music or just traditional music. After that Grand Kallé created African Jazz and started to get succes, the new generation all adopted his style and also started to create proper bands. The only problem with Grand Kallé was that he wasn't paying his musicians well which often created tensions in band.

I think that the behavior of bandleaders trying to block their former bandmembers that Tabu Ley and Franco started to do and the generations followed, came from the fear to dissapear like Grand Kalle. Because after the split of African Jazz in 1963, the moment Nico Kassanda, Dechaud Mwamba and Rochereau Tabu Ley decided to from African Fiesta, Grand Kallé never reached the top again.

Am I the only one who is thinking that Clin d'oel of JB Mpiana's sound is just a modified version of Independence cha cha cha