Tosepela Esengo, by Passi Jo & Warako Musica

Tosepela Esengo

by Passi Jo & Warako Musica

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Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album
Comes in a colourful gatefold card case (no plastic!) with a 6-track bonus CD and an 8-page booklet that slides into the middle panel. Text is in both English and French. Features cover design and artwork by Melbourne creatives: photographer/visual artist Pamela Kleemann-Passi, visual artist E Anne Jeppe and graphic designer Arun Munoz..

Includes unlimited streaming of Tosepela Esengo via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

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1.	Together 04:31	lyrics	buy track
Lingala/English
2.	Bosepela 05:13	lyrics	buy track
Lingala
3.	Dimbo 09:12	lyrics	buy track
Lingala
4.	From Congo 04:13	info	buy track
5.	W M Pachunga 06:04	lyrics	buy track
Lingala
6.	Dimbo Version 2 04:03	lyrics	buy track
Lingala
7.	Together Version 2 03:25	lyrics	buy track
Lingala/English

about

Tosepela Esengo is the long awaited debut release from the award-winning Australian band Warako Musica, lead by the internationally renowned Congolese musician Passi Jo. Regrettably, he did not live to see the album completed... These songs have been played extensively around Australia at festivals, events and venues large and small over many years and were finally recorded between 2013-15. Thousands of feet have danced to them! They reflect Passi Jo's Rumba and Soukouss musical roots, combined with Afrobeat and Cuban Salsa. Play these tunes and you won't be able to sit still for long! They are eminently danceable and are so full of joy.

This release comes with a bonus CD - projects annexes (Side Projects): some hauntingly beautiful and uplifting tracks from projects that Passi Jo was working on. Bayekola and Tingama were recorded with The Letter String Quartet; Heleni and Zuzanna are live recordings as conductor and lead vocalist with Jabula! Choir + the exquisite song Mbanza Congo which he wrote for and performed in the award-winning film Slow West! Some of the tracks had been completed, others were still in their more raw state and although the recordings are slightly uneven, they embody a mix of exquisite beauty, melancholy and much joy in the music Passi Jo wrote and performed.

Here it is then - Passi Jo's final gift... From Super Boboto (Congo) to Kass Kass (France) to Warako Musica (Australia) to Black Boris (in the beyond), with his music he brought joy, happy feet and happy hearts. His message is simple: 'tosepela esengo (Lingala, his original language), meaning enjoy yourself, be happy!

Supporting this music project means that $2AUD from each album sale goes to the Fondation Terre Nouvelle (FTN), a registered charity (established by a member of Passi Jo's family) to fight poverty and unemployment for orphans and abandoned children in Passi Jo's hometown of Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.

credits

released May 2, 2019

Tosepela Esengo:
Passi Jo aka Black Boris: Composer, Arranger, Lead/Backing Vocals, Cowbell
Jim Swainston: Guitar
Conrad Henderson: Bass
Chris Lesser: Keyboard
Gustavo Moreno: Drums
Ruth Kennedy: Backing Vocals
Ajak Kwai: Backing Vocals

projets annexes (Side Projects):
Passi Jo: Composer, Arranger, Lead/Backing Vocals
The Letter String Quartet (Zoe Barry, Biddy Connor, Steph O'Hara, Sue Simpson): Backing Vocals, Cello, Viola, Violin; Joseph Bekele: Bass; String Arrangements: Biddy Connor
Jabula! Choir: Miriam Abud, Karen Berger, Lochie Bradfield, Susan Doel, Lee Hunt, Ajak Kwai, Ruth Kennedy, Semina Madsen, Jo Trevathan: Vocals; Gerald Frederic: Keyboard; Paul Hughan: Guitar; Tawanda Gadzikwa: Drums

Tosepela Esengo recorded and mixed by Andrew Hehir, Soundpark Studio
Mastered by Gerard McGough, Soundpark Studio
Produced by Pamela Kleemann-Passi

Cover and Booklet Photography: Pamela Kleemann-Passi
Graphic Design: Arun Munoz and Pamela Kleemann-Passi
Passi Jo original painting: E. Anne Jeppe

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about

Passi Jo & Warako Musica Melbourne, Australia

Warako Musica lead by late internationally acclaimed Congolese singer Passi Jo, was one of Australia’s most energetic African bands. Best Live World Act, 2000 Australian Music Foundation Awards; ‘Lifetime Achievement in a Musical Career’ awarded to Passi Jo, Victorian African Community/Africa Media Australia 2015. Warako Musica have played at festivals and venues large and small around Australia. ... more

warakomusica.com

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