‘Ray Lema "On rentre KO, on sort OK !"’

With his Tout Puissant Orchestre Kinois de Jazz, Luambo Makiadi, aka Franco, has marked the history of Congolese rumba. A rich and unique vein of satire ran through his songs as he depicted everyday life in Congolese society, while he also singing of the devastation wrought by AIDS in the last decades of the 20th century. His musical philosophy was a profound influence on the Congolese musicians who followed him, including the acclaimed pianist Ray Lema. Thirty years after this legendary musician’s death, Lema pays tribute to him, surrounded by a host of exceptional musicians. With Fredy Massamba, the great voice of Congo-Brazzaville, the unrivalled bassist Michel Alibo, leading guitarist Rodriguez Vangama, Dharil Esso’s groovy drums, and a panoply of brass and percussion instruments, Ray Lema invites you to honour the memory of the great Franco to the intoxicating rhythm of the rumba.