Recording: The Ace of Africa

Artist: The Ace of Africa

Song: unknown^*

Recorded at Harbourfront Centre's Concert Stage (Habari Africa Festival), August 11, 2018.

The Ace of Africa - unknown

One of the summer's best-curated weekends for just go and discover something music hangs, the Habari Festival brought music, dance, film and more celebrating the diversity of African cultures. The night finished with a giant dance party courtesy of "Les As d'Afrique", another all-star unit representing the top flight of players in Congolese styles (ndombolo, soukous, rumba, zouk, mutuashi), mostly from Montréal. Lead by Jackson Ayale Molo, the eight-member group (plus guest vocalist Blandine) paid tribute to the late singer/dancer Moto Kapia. Check out how (through some coincidence of parallel evolution) Molo's guitar here sounds like it keeps locking into half-bar loops from a Tom Verlaine guitar solo — advanced grooves, and just super joyful and super-fiery stuff.

^* Does anyone know the title to this one? Please leave a comment!