Kongo Dia Ntotila, 360° Review

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Kongo Dia Ntotila, 360° Review

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While studying music at Leeds College, band leader of Kongo Dia Ntotila, Mulele Matondo developed a musical partnership with jazz guitar tutor and future bandmate John Kelly. Lessons became musical exchanges as the duo collaborated and played with the intricate patterns of Sebene (Soukous) guitar.  Fast forward ten years later the ensemble consists of Mulele Matondo (bass), John Kelly (guitar), Mbouta Kissangwa (drums), Diala Sakuba (guitar) and UK jazz horn players William Scott (saxophone) and Mike Soper (trumpet). With their first album Seben Steps To Heaven under their belt, the ensemble has a new impending album 360°  coming in May of 2019.  The 10-track album pays homage to some of Africa’s finest dance music styles – revived, urbanised, and seamlessly fused with a heavy injection of jazz.

Positives:

Danceable and immersive, the album takes you through a journey infused with international sounds.

Bottom Line:

From the album opener, “Kongo,” Kinshasa collides with London Jazz in a celebration of Congolese roots. The album sees the band move collectively through the sounds and styles of Africa exploring notes of joy, celebration, pain, and protest. Although Kongo Dia Ntotila has brought jazz and blues influences into their music. The title track “360°” a groove based instrumental track, is gritty and funked with a divinely African-London sensibility, to the introspection and pain of “Naleli,” a song that laments the suffering of Africa with a jazz-reggae sound. One resounding theme throughout is the celebration of the motherland. The groups groundbreaking sound is clearly inspired by the burgeoning new jazz scene emerging from the U.K. capital. Their sound is innovative and energetic, if you don’t find yourself dancing after this album, check your pulse. That’s the short of it!

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