Tabu Ley Rochereau Voice Of Lightness: Congo Classic 1961-1977 (Deluxe) CD

About time, too. The world has needed a good compilation of this great Congolese singer, and this two-disc set comes close to being just what the doctor ordered, focusing on the 1960s and '70s, when he was arguably at his best and most creative, with his voice emotional and supple, standing out from whatever group was behind him at the time -- and he led some of the classics of the period. At almost 90 minutes, this offers a lot of Tabu Ley Rochereau, with plenty of sublime moments of Congolese rhumba before it morphed into the faster, less delicate soukous. Rochereau could easily command, and does so often, with great songwriting ability (listen to the way the chorus lifts on "Pesa le Tout," for instance -- it's sublime). There are moments of hubris, of course, and not just in the music. The notes claim that Rochereau invented the instrumental break known as the sebene, which, according to many other sources, simply isn't true. But that's by the bye. The man sang like a dream, and these golden years really capture him at his peak: thrilling, and one of the classic African voices. ~ Chris Nickson

Liner Note Author: Ken Braun.

Arranger: Tabu Ley Rochereau.

Personnel: Tabu Ley Rochereau (vocals); Tabu Ley Rochereau; Sam Mangwana (vocals, percussion); Likinga Redo, N'Yoka Longo, Tabu Ley (vocals); Dino Vangu, Ya Mbongo Lokassa (guitar); Modero Mekanisi, Manu Dibango (saxophone); Seskain Molenga (drums).

Additional personnel: Modero Mekanisi (vocals, saxophone); Joseph "Kalle" Kabasele, Roger Izeidi (vocals, percussion); Rene Kare Kassanda, Opetun "Pepe" Ndombe, Kare Kasanda, Augustin "Hennesy" Malao, Muazik Nzuzi, Hennesy Malao, Mbuta Mashakado, Likinga Redo, Pascal "Rochereau" Tabou, Joseph "Mujos" Mulamba, Kwamy Munsi, Paul Mizele, Nyoka Longo (vocals); Tino Baroza, Johnny Bokasa, Guvano Vangu, Pierre Attel Mbumba, Denis Lokassa Kasia, "Michelino" Mavatiku Visi, "Dizzy" Mandjeku Lengo, Lokassa "Ya Mbongo" Kasia, Paul "Bopol" Mansiamina, Dino Vangu, Manuaku Waku, Charles "Dechaud" Mwamba, Nicolas Kasanda, Dechaud Mwamba, Faugus Izeidi, Dizy Mandjeku (guitar); Edouard "Edo Clari" Lutula (clarinet, saxophone); Armand-Louis Samu Bakula, Samu Bakula, Empompo "Deyesse" Loway, Kimuanga Kawongolo, Andre Menga, Empompo Loway (saxophone); Willy Kuntima, Jeef Mingiedi, Alphonse Biolo, Jean Pierre Nzenze, Dominique "Willy" Kuntima (trumpet); Albert Taumani (double bass); "Philo" Kola Ntalulu, Philo Kola, Joseph Mwena (bass guitar); Seskain Molenga, Kanyama "Ringo" Moya Lotula (drums); Depuissant Kaya, Armando Ama, Antoine "Depuissant" Kaya (congas); Henri "Fredos" Dongala, Fredos Dongala (percussion); Orchestre African Jazz, African Fiesta 66, African Fiesta National, Afrisa International, Onaza, African Fiesta, Ya Mbongo Lokassa, Manu Dibango, Sam Mangwana.

Rolling Stone (p.87) - 4.5 stars out of 5 -- "[T]he set's pervasive pleasure is lovely melodies filigreed with guitar that's delicate and propulsive."