''Zing Zong'' is an album by the Congolese musician
Kanda Bongo Man
Bongo Kanda (born 1 January 1955), better known by his stage name Kanda Bongo Man, is a Congolese soukous musician and singer. His career debuted in 1973 when he became the singer for the Belle Mambo band, developing a sound influenced by Tabu Le ...
, released in 1991. The album is dedicated to the memory of Soki Vangu and his brother Soki Dianzenza (also known as Emile and Maxime Soki), who were in the earlier Zairean soukous band
Orchestre Bella Bella. Both brothers died within a year of each other. "Freres Soki" is a tribute to them, and "Zing-Zong" is a reworking of a Bella Bella hit, "Houleux Houleux". Kanda supported the album with a North American tour.
Production
The album was produced by Kanda Bongo Man. Nene Tchakou played guitar. Kanda Bongo Man sang in Lingala and French. "Yesu Christu" is a tribute to Jesus Christ.
Critical reception
''
The Washington Post
''The Washington Post'', locally known as ''The'' ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'' or ''WP'', is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C., the national capital. It is the most widely circulated newspaper in the Washington m ...
'' called the album "a seamless, recurring weave of effervescent guitars, light, undulating rhythms and Kanda's sweet soul vocals." The ''
Boston Herald
The ''Boston Herald'' is an American conservative daily newspaper whose primary market is Boston, Massachusetts, and its surrounding area. It was founded in 1846 and is one of the oldest daily newspapers in the United States. It has been awarde ...
'' wrote that "Kanda adds a slinky horn section to the traditional Zairean rhumba with its galloping drums, rippling guitar interplay and call-and-response singing."
The ''
Los Angeles Daily News
The ''Los Angeles Daily News'' is the second-largest-circulating paid daily newspaper of Los Angeles, California, after the unrelated ''Los Angeles Times'', and the flagship newspaper of the Southern California News Group, a branch of Colorado ...
'' determined that "the musicianship is still high, but the endlessly repeating beat becomes tedious."
[
]
Track listing
# "Zing-Zong" – 4:55
# "Isambe" – 5:52
# "Mosali" – 4:52
# "Wallow" – 5:01
# "Monie" – 4:48
# "Yonde Love Me" – 4:45
# "Yesu Christu" – 5:14
# "Freres Soki" – 4:50
# "Kadhi" – 5:17
All compositions by Kanda Bongo Man except "Zing Zong" by Soki Vangu and Kanda Bongo Man. All songs published by RykoMusic Ltd.
Personnel
* Kanda Bongo Man: lead vocals
* Nene Tchakou: lead guitar on 1,2,3,6,7,8
* Dally: lead guitar on 4,5,9
* Mimi Kazidonna: rhythm guitar
* Komba Bellow: drums
* Modero: saxophone on 1,3
* Kaber Kabasele: trumpet & percussion on 1,3,6
* Backing vocals: Odette & Kanda Bongo Man on 4,7; Jena Mandako on 1,3,6
All songs arranged and produced by Kanda Bongo Man. Recorded at Studio Caroline, Paris. Engineers: Jacky Reggan & Jerome.
References
{{Authority control
Kanda Bongo Man albums
1991 albums
Hannibal Records albums