L’Orchestre OK Jazz

★★★★

Pas Un Pas Sans – The Boleros Of OK Jazz 1957-77

PLANET ILUNGA. LP

Soulful slow dances from the kings of Kinshasa

Planet Ilunga’s third collection of OK Jazz tracks comes with the label’s admirable attention to detail and fabulous sound but focuses on boleros, those Cuba-influenced ballads that allowed dancers to get close in Kinshasa clubs yet don’t always get the kudos of the band’s rhumbas. Remastered from the original 45s and 78s – OK Jazz issued almost 500 singles, so it saves time and money letting somebody else make the selection – these 24 tracks are the sound of bandleader Franco (composer of all but nine) exploring love and pain primarily, but with a bit of social comment thrown in (Organise The Congo, One Of These Days) and a jingle for shoes (Not A Step Without Bata). Hearing OK Jazz develop from 1957 B-side Kenge Okeyi Elaka Te to 1977’s epic lament Tolinganaki Toboyanaki is quite the experience.