Syran Mbenza playing acoustic guitar on "Delali." Video from Kekele album Congo Life. Singers are Nyboma Mwandido, Wuta Mayi, Loko "Djeskain" Massengo, Bumba Massa.
SYRAN MBENZA: DIABLE DE LA GUITARE
In the history of Congolese music, the legendary Docteur Nico (Nicolas Kasanda) was known as "Dieu de la Guitar" (God of the Guitar). There can only be one God, but the opposite, equally powerful, is always the Devil (Diable). Following in Nico's footsteps, Syran Mbenza has absorbed Nico's lessons as well as those of the Congo Colossus, the Grand Maitre and Sorcier de la Guitar Franco Luambo Makiadi to create a formidable musical force.
From his early days in Sam Mangwana's African Allstars in the '70s, to the
whirlwind soukous days in Paris with the Four Stars in the '80s and '90s,
and presently as co-leader of the celebrated and critically acclaimed
acoustic rumba group Kekele, master guitarist Syran Mbenza continues to
be a bright star shining in the galaxy of Congolese music. One of African
music's most accomplished and creative musicians, Syran is also an
innovative composer, arranger, songwriter and in-demand studio musician who
has participated in hundreds of recordings.
[COURTOISIE DE WWW.KONGOMUSIC.COM] Quand il se met à jouer à la guitare (1968), Syran Mbenza allie en fait l..utile à l..agréable, puisqu..il poursuit encore ses études. La musique, il l..exerce à côté, pour tuer le temps. Mais son attrait se révèle si fort qu..il ne peut y résister: La Banita, Dynamic Jazz, Somo-Somo. Par ce dernier, Syran entre dans Lovy du Zaïre (73) sans réaliser qu..il vient de passer sa licence de professionnel. Syran plaque tout et s..envole pour le Togo (78), espérant amorcer une carrière internationale. Coup de bol, sa route croise celle de Sam Mangwana et Dizzy Mandjeku qui mènent tambour battant le groupe African All Stars. Sa collaboration au sein de ce groupe va durer trois ans. Depuis son arrivée en France il y a 20 ans, Syran réalise des disques solo, il contribue à des nombreux disques. Il fait partie intégrante des groupes Kass Kass et Les Quatre Etoiles.
QUOTES
"Kekele, the cream of rumba veterans from the former Zaire ... make the most
exquisite music. Eric Clapton isn't fit to tune the strings of their lead
guitarist, Syran Mbenza."
--Andy Kershaw in The Independent-U.K., 2005
"Syran Mbenza is musician's musician, an aficionado's musician.... I've
heard Syran do just about everything. He has an encyclopedic range of hooks
and an arranger's mentality.... I'd be surprised if you could find better
solo soukous sebenes. And anyone who has followed his career knows there¹s
hardly a guitarist more adept at leading a three-guitar sebene.... For
Mbenza, who is also an accomplished songwriter and musical arranger, a
pro's pro, it has always been about the music and the style of the band he's
playing with."
--Barry Eisenberg, The Beat 2006
"Syran Mbenza played guitar like it was an extension of his soul."
--Carolyn Nikodym, Intercamp, Edmonton, Alberta, 2005
CONTACT
mbenza_syran@yahoo.fr
BOOKINGS
North America: Mondo Mundo, www.mondomundo.biz 909-522-9494; mel@mondomundo.biz
Europe: Corinne, Mad Minute Music, www.madminutemusic.com
33(0)1 40 10 25 55
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bonne année 2009 et meilleures voeux de bonheur et de réussites musicales de la part de BLACK VOICES émission radio en musique africaine latine et antillaise, tous les lundi et mardi 19h30-20h30 SUR www. radiobip. fr
