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Ricardo Lemvo & Makina Loca
(Congo-Kinshasa / Angola)
Biography
Ricardo Lemvo & Makina Loca are based in California. Their music is predominantly salsa,
but spiced with congolese soukous flavours. Lemvo's music reminds therefore of that of Africando,
trying to tie afro-cuban music to its African roots. Of course, the other way around, since the 1940s and 1950s, modern African music was heavily
influenced by latin music. During the 1960s and 1970s, African music tried to replace this latin foundations by African rhythms.
Now, the two are meeting again...
Ricardo is of Angolan origin but was born in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo), where he was exposed both to Cuban music (among others Johnny Pacheco) and to Zairean rumba by Joseph Kabasele. After joining his father in California, he started to sing in local Cuban bands. In 1990, he created Makina Loca together with Cameroonian guitar player Louis Wasson.
Ricardo is of Angolan origin but was born in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo), where he was exposed both to Cuban music (among others Johnny Pacheco) and to Zairean rumba by Joseph Kabasele. After joining his father in California, he started to sing in local Cuban bands. In 1990, he created Makina Loca together with Cameroonian guitar player Louis Wasson.
Ricardo Lemvo
• Makina Loca consists of:
Ricardo Lemvo vocals, chorus
Niño Jesús Alejandro flute, keyboards, tres, bass, chorus
Louis Wasson guitar
Nengue Hernández conga, bongo, chorus
Charlie Biggs trumpet
Ricardo Lemvo vocals, chorus
Niño Jesús Alejandro flute, keyboards, tres, bass, chorus
Louis Wasson guitar
Nengue Hernández conga, bongo, chorus
Charlie Biggs trumpet
• Guest musicians on "Tata Masamba":
Sam Mangwana vocals
Huit Kilos Nseka guitar
Syran M'Benza solo guitar
Bopol Mansiamina rhythm guitar
Andy Abad tres
José "Papo" Rodríguez conga, bongo
Sam Mangwana vocals
Huit Kilos Nseka guitar
Syran M'Benza solo guitar
Bopol Mansiamina rhythm guitar
Andy Abad tres
José "Papo" Rodríguez conga, bongo
Komba Bellow drums
Martín Flores drums
Steve Baxter trombone
Wayne Bergeron trumpet
Nyboma, Eric Francis, Wawali Bonane, Dodo Munoko, Djeffard Lukombo chorus
Born: in Kinshasa
Makina Loca was created: in 1990 by Lemvo and Louis Wasson
Style: salsa with Congolese influences
Discography
| Title | Year | Label | Remarks |
| La Rumba So Yo | 2014 | Cumbancha | |
| Retrospectiva | 2009 | Mopiato Music | |
| Isabela | 2007 | Mopiato Music MOPI-2 | |
| Ay Valeria! | 2003 | Mopiato Music | |
| Sao Salvador | 2000 | Putumayo PUTU 158-2 CD | |
| Mambo Yo Yo | 1998 | Putumayo PUTU 137-2 CD | |
| Tata Masamba | 1996 | Mopiato Music RC 1990 |
Page added January 2002