Le Grand Maitre Franco et le T.P.O.K. Jazz “L’Animation Non Stop”

Francois Luambo Makiadi Lokanga La Djo Pene, also known as Franco, has been active since the 50's and has led the scene as an international representative of Congolese music. This is an album released in 1987 under the name Le Grand Maitre Franco at le T.P.O.K. Jazz. As the title suggests, it is a dance-oriented piece with several tracks played non-stop. The A-side opens with hot blaring horns and a danceable rumba/soukous with a beat that is a perfect blend of US soul/funk and Congolese folk music rhythms, Franco's vocals that are almost like spoken word, and female duo vocals dancing groovily. The B-side is an African rumba with a laid-back rhythm, which is also very pleasant. Trippy synths can be heard from time to time. The B-side is an African rumba with a relaxed rhythm.