Kwamy et son Orchestre Jazz (1970) Fiesta 51.049 - Nga Sie No.7

This single from Kwamy has two really beautiful rumba tracks he composed. We are not sure if the Orchestre Jazz credited on the label is OK Jazz or Kwamy's own group. It certainly sounds like Franco playing the great sebene solo on 'Adeline.' It could indeed be him, because the troubled Kwamy briefly rejoined OK Jazz from 1970-1972 and this single was released in 1970. If anyone can clear this up we would be grateful.

One thing that strikes us about this is how great the recording sounds, even when transfered to mp3, just listen to that great sebene at 2.43 into 'Adeline.'

Kwamy et son orchestre Jazz (Fiesta 51.049 - Nga Sie No.7)

Side A - Adeline (Kwamy)

Side B - Elise Ata Na Cimetiere (Kwamy)

http://www.4shared.com/file/yisMKWbc/Kwamy_et_son_Orchestre_Jazz.html

Mayi Tokomelaka (1987) (Edipop 1012)

Here is a real rarity we found in our father's collection. It is controversial because Franco was found guilty in court of copying the song, without credit, from a composer called Bidika Nowele, who called the song 'Mayi ya Regideso.' Those of you who speak French can read the full details of the court case here.


http://www.mbokamosika.com/article-23854243.html

On the record we have Nowele is credited as the composer, but the court case states the first release of the record credited Franco as the composer!

So here is the track. Unfortunately there are a lot of skips on it, we could not fix this. Still this is a great rare find for serious OK Jazz collectors. If anyone has a better version please send it to us and we will post it instead.

We have combined the A and B sides of this single into one mp3.
There is no cover for the single unfortunately. You can download it here.

http://www.4shared.com/file/NkFB2oVM/Maya_Tokomelaka.html

***Update***

Here is another version of this track uploaded by a visitor to this site Peter, thank you for your contribution.

http://www.4shared.com/file/j7D30QcM/

Peter also provided us with this photo of the label

African Retro Vol. 1 and Merveilles du Passé 1957/1958

This blog is all about collecting all the Ok Jazz related material we can find in one place, so we occasionally post links to uploads made on other blogs. Here we post links from our friends at Global Groovers to two old records featuring OK Jazz in their early days.

Merveilles du Passé 1957/1958 is some of the earliest Ok Jazz on record, heavy rumbas, beautiful music.

You can read more about the album and download it here

http://globalgroovers.blogspot.com/2010/12/franco-lok-jazz-merveilles-du-passe.html

Track listing

1 Motema ya lokoso (Franco)
2 Oyangani ngai ? (Franco)
3 Oleka tukomane (Vicky)
4 Ngai oyo nazongi (Vicky)
5 Bana ages (Franco)
6 Oh ! Katharina (Franco)
7 La mulata rumber (Franco)
8 Malambo zela (Franco)
9 Mami majos (Franco)
10 OK Jazz makila mabe (Franco)
11 Grupo O.K. Jazz (Franco)
12 Baboni mboka (Franco)

The second link from Global Groovers is a compilation called African Retro Vol.1. The first six tracks are by OK Jazz. The album also includes music by Orchestre Bantous and Orchestre Cercul.

http://globalgroovers.blogspot.com/2010/12/african-tetro-vol1-pont-sur-le-zaire.html

 Track listing

1 Orchestre OK Jazz - Misele (Franco)
2 Orchestre OK Jazz - On a ose le dire (Franco)
3 Orchestre OK Jazz - Polo (Franco)
4 Orchestre OK Jazz - Bolingo ya bougie (Coimy)
5 Orchestre OK Jazz - Si tu bois beaucoup (Dele)
6 Orchestre OK Jazz - Le temps passe (Franco)
7 Orchestre Bantous - Pa' vacillar
8 Orchestre Bantous - Bantous pachanga
9 Orchestre Cercul - Mobali ya craneur
10 Orchestre Cercul - Honole
11 Orchestre Bantous - Endiable merengue
12 Orchestre Bantous - Tout Brazza

Soon we will post a very rare and controversial OK Jazz track which we found in our father's collection.

Nakomi Musulman 1 & 2 (1977) Edipop 028 Bis

Here as a late Christmas present is a great single from 1977 composed by Youlou Mabiala.

This track was split over two sides on the original vinyl. We have put it together as one mp3.

http://www.4shared.com/file/v7RPEg_G/nakomi_musulman.html

Check back in a few days for a New Year gift.

Heritage Du Grand Maitre Franco

We post this in tribute to our father. This was recorded after Franco's death in tribute to the great master. It is perhaps the best OK Jazz recording done without him. Some of the synthesizer sounds have not dated well, but we cannot fault the great songs, musicianship, sebenes and perhaps best of all, the fact that so many of the great OK Jazz members came together on this album.
We have Josky, Simaro, Madilu System, Ntesa Dalienst, Djo Mpoyi, Lola Checain, Ndombe Opetum, Aime Kiwakana, Lukoki Diatho, Papa Noel, Decca M'Pudi, Gerry Dialunguna, Yuma Michel Sax, Flavien Makabi, Ya Mokoso, Kunista Ribens, Cyril Orcel, Makwala Bibeson, Weteto Mikorason, Zinga, Alpha, Gandy and Dizzy Mandjeku mixed it. There may be a big hole without Franco on this record, but just that front line of singers is incredible. Josky, Simaro, Aime, Madilu, Papa Noel and Ndombe contributed one great song each to make this a great record. Really the last great OK Jazz record before divisions made the band members break into different versions and pursue solo careers.

We have fond memories of the day our father brought this LP home and played it for us over and over. We were mourning Franco then, today we celebrate our father's memory with this post.

http://www.4shared.com/file/ai0u-klP/ok_jazz_heritage_du_grand_mait.html

A1		Maby (Josky)
A2		Mamisa (Simaro)
A3		Malaria (Aime)
B1		Tonton Zala Serieux (Papa Noel)
B2		Mort' Vivant...Somida (Madilu)
B3		Osala Erreur (Aime)

New Franco Radio Show

We have been contacted by Hedd Thomas, a DJ and presenter of United World Radio to tell us about a new radio special about Franco and OK Jazz. You can listen to it here.

http://unitedworldradio.org/2010/11/17/show-19-%E2%80%93-legends-of-africa-franco/

Itshiofo (Edipop 058)

 

We return to posting OK Jazz classics with a bang. 

This was one of our father's favourite tracks and we found this rare single amongst his record collection. It is a Youlou Mabiala composition called 'Itshiofo' from 1977. Another one of those classic building rumbas with a great sebene. The intro is quite funky, a bit like James Brown, after that it's pure OK Jazz. 

This single just consists of this one track, broken over two sides. We've put it all on one mp3, without editing the fade in and out so as to preserve the way it goes on the vinyl. We hope you enjoy this, the first of a new batch of OK Jazz songs we will be posting this month.

The download link is here http://www.4shared.com/file/WLEX_atj/Itshiofo.html

This file is 320 kps. Some people requested we try higher bitrates so we experimented with this. Unfortunately it will not be practical for us to upload other tracks at this bitrate because our internet connection is very slow. It took an hour and a half to upload this one track!