ROCK'A MAMBO

Orchestre Rock-a-Mambo was a studio band that included a rotating roster of performers from African Jazz, including Kabasele himself, Lucie Eyenga, Rossignol, Nino Malapet, Papa Noel, the young Wuta Mayi, and Lemy, as well as session men from OK Jazz and other great musicians in Leopoldville in 1956. Adou Elenga, one of the elders, and composer of "Maria Tebbo," returned from Angola to help set up the new band. This interchangeable pool of talent was associated with the Esengo label, which released its first half dozen discs in January 1957. Albums, EPs and singles were released on Pathé-Marconi & Columbia and are now very hard to find. Typical merengues and cha-chas were heard on the Hit Parade Africain series and the album AFRICAN MEMORIES. Rock-a-Mambo was the mother of Bantous de la Capitale, which also included a splinter group from OK Jazz, thereby uniting the two main styles of Congolese rumba across the river in Brazzaville.


DISCOGRAPHY OF ORCHESTRE ROCK-A-MAMBO

albums:

AFRICAN RETRO vol. 5
Pathé Marconi - EMI 2 C064-15962
A1: Les Voyous (merengue - lingala) (Nino)
A2: Mi cancion (cha cha cha - lingala) (Nino)
A3: Maria Valente (cha cha cha - lingala)
A4: Rumba Queiro (rumba - lingala) (De Wayon)
A5: Baila (cha cha cha - espagnol) (J. Essous)
A6: Serenade sentimentale (rumba - lingala) (J. Essous)
B1: Jalousie (cha cha cha - espagnol) (Nino)
B2: Panchita (cha cha cha - espagnol) (Nino)
B3: El rumba so (cha cha -mereng Esp.) (D.P.)
B4: Esnghe Zuke (rumba - lingala) (D.P.)
B5: Bonne Année (rumba - lingala) (D.P.)
B6: Oyambaka ngai (rumba - lingala) (D.P.)

compilations:

AFRICAN RETRO Vol 6
Pathé Marconi - EMI 2 C064-15978 P. 1977?
A5: Chauffez African Jazz (Kabasele)
A6: Besame Mucho Jaquelina (Kabasele)
B1: Bamoule Bidame (Liengo)
B2: Brigitte (Lucie Yenga)
B3: Kumaye (Nezy & Negro Band)
B4: Senhorita (Baguin & Negro Band)
B5: Mabe na yo moko (Lucie Yenga)
B6: Bolingo Alphonsine (Kabasele et Rossignol)
B7: Vea 58 (Kabasele et Rossignol)
B8: Nalingi na ngai Kobalate (Bidama)


image courtesy of Bolingo.org
AFRICAN MEMORIES
Pathé Marconi - EMI 2C062-15136; also C062-15810
A1: Merengue-Nico (merengue) 2:38 Nico & son ensemble
A2: Li dvo maravilla (cha-cha) 2:45 Orchestre Rock-a-mambo
A4: Micky mi queiro 2:50 Nino [Malapet] & Orchestre Rock-a-mambo
A5: Oye Jacquy (cha-cha) 2:50 Orchestre Rock-a-mambo
B6: Merengue Babalou (merengue) 2:40 Orchestre Rock-a-mambo


image courtesy of bolingo.org
EPs:

Orchestre Rock-A-Mambo

[Columbia ESRF 1460; also ESDF1321]

A1: Baila (J. Essous)
(Cha cha cha, chanté en espagnol)
A2: Serenade sentimental (J. Essous)
(Rumba, chanté en lingala--vernaculaire du Congo Belge)
B1: Jalousie (Nino)
(Cha cha cha, chanté en espagnol)
B2: Panchita (Nino)
(Cha cha cha, chanté en espagnol)

Chant: Kabasele - Rossignol
Guitares: Nico et Tino
Clarinette: Essous
Basse: Roitelet


image courtesy of bolingo.org
Rossignol et l'Orchestre Rock 'A Mambo

[Columbia ESRF 1793; also ESDF 1321]

A1: El rumba so
(cha-cha - chanté en espagnol)
A2: Esnghe zuke
(rumba - chanté en lingala)
B1: Bonne année
(rumba - chanté en lingala)
B2: Oyambaka ngai
(rumba - chanté en lingala)

Enregistrement Esengo (Congo Léopoldville)


Orchestre Rock-A-Mambo

[ESRF 1415; also ESDF 1343]
A1: Una Noche (cha cha cha)
A2: Luiza (cha cha cha)
B1: Simarocca (cha cha cha)
B2: La belle Lucie Botayi (cha cha cha)

Orchestre Rock-A-Mambo

ESDF 1372
A1: Les Voyous, merengue
A2: Mi cancion (cha cha cha)
B1: Maria Valente (cha cha cha)
B2: Rumba quiero, rumba


image courtesy of seaneverdry
Nino et l'Orchestre Rock-A-Mambo

[Columbia ESDF 1380] EP
A1: Yamare, cha cha cha - Chanté en espagnol
A2: Iyele, guaracha - Chanté en espagnol
[B-side is Edo et Essous avec Orchestre Bantou]

compilation:

GROUPES CHOC DES ANNEES 50s
A1: Maria Valente - Rock-a-Mambo
A2: Rumba Quiero - Rock-a-Mambo
B1: Bolingo ya la jolie - Lucie Eyenga
B3: Les voyous - Rock-a-Mambo
B4: Mi cancion - Rock-a-Mambo

CONGO LATINO
ESDF 1401 (with Negro Band)
A1: Brigitte
A2: Bakoule



ORCHESTRE ROCK-A-MAMBO NO 4
(Columbia ESDF 1403; orig: Esengo)
A1: Mabe na yo moko
A2: Bolingo Alphonsine
B1: Vea 58
B2: Nalingi na ngai kubala te

101 ESENGO singles of Rock'a Mambo

courtesy: bolingo.org

Cat #

Title

Composer

On LP

On CD

1a Les Voyous (Merengue Lingala) Nino EMI 2 C064-15962; ESDF 1372; ESDF 1380
1b Mi cancion (Cha cha Lingala) Nino EMI 2 C064-15962; ESDF 1372; ESDF 1380
2a Rosita (Bolero Lingala) Essous
2b Elixir del cha cha (Cha cha Lingala) Essous
3a Tika ngai seli (Rumba Lingala) Rossignol
3b Rock A Mambo (Rumba Lingala) Rossignol
4a Lily Germaine (Calypso Lingala) Tino Baroza
4b Pesa ngai falanga na masanga (Rumba Lingala) Tino Baroza
5a Jalousie (Cha cha Espagnol) Nino ESRF 1460; 2C064-15962
5b Amigo (Cha cha Espagnol) Nino
7a Serenade Sentimentale (Rumba Lingala) Essous 2C064-15962
7b Baila (Cha cha Espagnol) Essous ESDF 1460; 2C064-15962
9a Ekwata (Cha cha Lingala) Rossignol
9b Limbisa ngai Lelo (Rumba Lingala) Rossignol
10a Anna (Rumba Lingala) Nino
10b Chez Faignond (Rumba Lingala) Nino
11a Panchita (Cha cha Espagnol) Nino 2C064-15962; ESRF1460
11b Toca mi (Mambo Espagnol) Nino
12a Siempre mi (Bolero Espagnol) Rossignol
12b Rossignol Cantador (Cha cha Espagnol) Rossignol
13a Oh cailloux (Rumba Lingala) Sathan
13b Baboma se pamba (Rumba Lingala) Sathan
16a El rico Cuban mambo (Mambo Espagnol) Nino & African Rock
16b Sentiment Marie Jose (Bolero Lingala) Nino & African Rock
22a Bay marinero (Rumba Lingala) Tino Barozza
22b Marie Pembe (rumba Lingala) Tino Barozza
27a Nino y su orchestra tipica (Calypso Espagnol) Nino
27b Annie mi chou (Mambo Espagnol) Nino
28a Makulu ngulu (Rumba Lingala) Roitelet
28b Marie Louise (Fox Lingala) Roitelet
29a Huit jours abandonnes (Rumba Lingala) Bowane
29b Nakoboya yo te (Rumba Lingala) Bowane
30a Camarade ya mboka monodele (Merengue Lingala) Essous
30b Marie Petro (Rumba Lingala) Essous
32a Nasepeli mingi (Cha cha Lingala) Lucie Yenga
32b Bilobela ya mokili (Rumba Lingala) Lucie Yenga
33a Ango (Rumba Lingala) Bowane
33b Agwaya (Rumba Lingala) Bowane
34a Nabanzi yo (Rumba Lingala) Papa Noel
34b Damoni Charlotte (Cha cha Espagnol) Papa Noel
38a Alpho kanisaka Roitelet (Calypso Lingala) Roitelet & son ensemble
38b Kota mu nzo (Cha cha Kikongo) Roitelet & son ensemble
39a Mokili complique (Rumba Lingala) Rossignol
39b Rossignol via Ponte Negro (Rumba Lingala) Rossignol
43a Palama baila (Rumba Lingala) Essous
43b Abra la puerta (Cha cha Espagnol) Essous
47a Ay Nino (Cha cha Espagnol) Nino
47b Ba tonneaux vides (Rumba Lingala) Nino
49a Ah na lali nzungu (Rumba Lingala) Essous
49b Babalou inspiration (Cha cha Espagnol) Essous
50a Rolina (Cha cha Espagnol) Nino
50b Mawa ya baninga (Rumba Lingala) Nino
51a La technica (Cha cha Espagnol) Rossignol
51b Mbiwala tene (Rumba Kingwandi) Rossignol
52a Ndoto kitoko (Bolero Lingala) Essous
52b Salisa ngai (Rumba Lingala) Essous
53a Mambo Nino (Mambo Espagnol) Nino
53b Laro (Cha cha Lingala) Nino
54a Mista Nkuyu (Calypso Lingala) Tino Barozza & son ensemble
54b Marie Pilipili (Cha cha Lingala) Tino Barozza & son ensemble
55a Ozwui Olei (Cha cha Lingala) Liengo Honore
55b Cherie Bedel (Rumba Lingala) Liengo Honore
59a Lengele Pula (Rumba Lingala) Sathan & son ensemble
59b Yolo 5 - 1 = 4 (Rumba Lingala) Sathan & son ensemble
60a Panzi likolo (Rumba Lingala) Rossignol
60b Baliaki bakenda (Rumba Espagnol) Rossignol
64a Talani pamba (Rumba Lingala) Lucie Yenga & son ensemble
64b Ndoto nde makanisi (Rumba Lingala) Lucie Yenga & son ensemble
65a Kan zenzenze (Cha cha Lingala) Rossignol
65b Nde okani ngai (Rumba Lingala) Rossignol
66a Yo quiero Lina (Cha cha Espagnol) Ngoy Eugene
66b Bibi wangu (Rumba Lingala) Ngoy Eugene
67a La primera (Cha cha Espagnol) Essous
67b Ambiance in Leo (Cha cha Lingala) Essous
68a Joe (Rumba Lingala) Ofele Joe
68b Naboyi bambanda (Rumba Lingala) Ofele Joe
71a Bakoule (Bidama Budja) Liengo Honore ESDF 1401 Congo Latino
71b Bolingo Alphonsine (Rumba Lingala) Liengo Honore 2C064-15978
72a Bailamos (Calypso Espagnol) Nino
72b Yebisa ye (Calypso Lingala) Nino
74a Mabe ya nani (Calypso Lingala) Pandy et son ensemble
74b La petite yolanda (Amelenko Lingala) Pandy et son ensembleo
77a Na wagi to (Cha cha samba) Tino Barozza
77b Misitaki bonso (Rumba Lingala) Tino Barozza
78a Calu wa Essous (Rumba Lingala) Essous
78b Mi paralitico (Calypso Lingala) Essous
79a Essous keti fwa (Rumba Kilari) Essous
79b Mwana ya mama (Rumba Lingala) Essous
80a Bakala nyonso luvunu (Rumba Kikongo) Roitelet
80b Bongo marche (Rumba Kikongo) Roitelet
81a Lole Lalomuna (Mazurka Baboa) Tino Barozza
81b Etikali se poso (Rumba Lingala) Tino Barozza
87a Okwei mabe (Rumba Lingala) Gogene
87b Bernadette wa Gogene (Cha cha Lingala) Gogene
88a Mokenge (Cha cha Lingala) Liengo Honore
88b Ngenge (Bidama Budja) Liengo Honore
89a Motema mobebi (Rumba Lingala) Rossignol
89b A la mode de Leo (Rumba Lingala) Rossignol
92a Comite Rock a Mambo (Cha cha Espagnol) Nino
92b Mwana Nzambi (Calypso Mbondjo) Nino
93a Nasali boni mama (Rumba Lingala) Tino Barozza, Dechaud, Roitelet & son ensemble
93b Par compte mademoiselle (Mazurka Lingala) Tino Barozza, Dechaud, Roitelet & son ensemble
94a Liwa ndeko te (Rumba Lingala) Tino Barozza, Dechaud, Roitelet & son ensemble
94b Baakoka te (Fox Lingala) Tino Barozza, Dechaud, Roitelet & son ensemble
99a Bella Christina (Rumba Lingala) Sathan & son ensemble
99b Dis Laurence (Rumba Lingala) Sathan & son ensemble
101a Bana Conga (Biguine Lingala) Ngoy Eugene & son ensemble
101b Mambo la Roffia (Mambo Lingala) Ngoy Eugene & son ensemble
103a Micki mi quiero (Rumba Espagnol) a.k.a. Micky mi quiero Nino EMI 2C062-15136; C062-15810; SOUND OF KINSHASA Original Music LP102
103b Sebene mama (Rumba Lingala) Nino
104a Tour de ville (Biguine Lingala) Essous
104b Basi bakeseni (Rumba Lingala) Essous
107a Meta Maria (Rumba Lingala) Nino
107b Bolingo se mbongo (Rumba Lingala) Nino
109a Mambo 1 (Mambo Lingala) Nino
109b Rumba de mi corazon (Rumba Espagnol) Nino
114a Astrid wa Tino (Rumba Lingala) Tino Barozza
114b Bolamu ya mbanda (Rumba Lingala) Tino Barozza
115a Dit Caro (Rumba Lingala) Roitelet & son ensemble
115b Alphonsine moke (Rumba Lingala) Roitelet & son ensemble
116a Miguelita (Rumba Lingala) Nino
116b Una hermosa nina (Rumba Espagnol) Nino
123a Nzungu ya loso (Rumba Lingala) Roitelet & son ensemble
123b Bazangi sani (Rumba Lingala) Roitelet & son ensemble
125a Etani tongo (Rumba Lingala) Tino Barozza
125b Etoko mpe malamu (Rumba Lingala) Tino Barozza
126a Maria Valente (Cha cha Lingala) De Wayon & son ensemble EMI 2 C064-15962; ESDF 1372; ESDF 1380
126b Rumba quiero (Rumba Lingala) De Wayon & son ensemble EMI 2 C064-15962; ESDF 1372; ESDF 1380
131a Mioto na likolo (Cha cha Lingala) Essous
131b Tina ezali (Cha cha Lingala) Essous
132a Povre y povre (Cha cha Espagnol) Essous
132b Pelisa mwinda (Rumba Lingala) Essous
133a Nakota boloko (Cha cha Lingala) Dema Antoine
133b Zongela ngai (Rumba Lingala) Dema Antoine
135a Ambiance (Rumba Lingala) De Wayon
135b Mingele motema (Rumba Lingala) De Wayon & son ensemble
136a Benga Justine (Cha cha Lingala) De Wayon
136b Ay nzambe ngai na Wayon (Bidama Lingala) De Wayon
137a Oboyaki ngai (Rumba Lingala) De Wayon
137b Profitez quand il est temps (Rumba Lingala) De Wayon
138a Camaro benga baila (Cha cha Espagnol) Lemy
138b Francisca (Rumba Lingala) Lemy
139a Mabanzo na ngai (Rumba Lingala) Rossignol
139b Annie wa Rossignol (Bolero Lingala) Rossignol
140a Lele etali bango (Rumba Lingala) Lucie Yenga
140b Mawata (Calypso Lingala) Lucie Yenga
141a Henriette wa bolingo (Rumba Espagnol) Lucie Yenga
141b Dodo wa ngai (Calypso Lingala) Lucie Yenga
152a Tanga mokanda oyo (Rumba Lingala) Essous
152b Baila en la noche (Cha cha Espagnol) Essous
165a Biere Polar (Cha cha Lingala) Essous
165b Avec la Polar la victoire (Rumba Lingala) Essous
167a Oye Jacquy (Cha cha Espagnol) Nino 2C062-15136
167b Ave Maria (Bidama Lingala) Nino
201a Lo qui a mi (Cubana Espagnol) Papa Noel
201b Trois filles trois garcons (Rumba Lingala) Papa Noel
202a Kumbamba (Rumba Lingala) Lucie Yenga
202b Neli obosani ngai (Cha cha Lingala) Lucie Yenga
215a Mi Cuban cha cha cha (Cha cha Espagnol) Popol Martinez
215b Makanisi ya bomwana (Rumba Lingala) Popol Martinez
217a Rythmo Rock'a Mambo (Cha cha Espagnol) Nino
217b Bana Diana Colline (Rumba Lingala) Nino
218a Mi Cuban cha cha cha (Cha cha Espagnol) Rossignol
218b La Diana (Rumba Lingala) Rossignol
219a Rocka rocka rocka (Cha cha Espagnol) Papa Noel
219b Ekelamo ya nzambe (Rumba Lingala) Papa Noel
228a Cubana (Cha cha Espagnol) Rossignol
228b Nasali nazui mayele (Rumba Lingala) Rossignol
229a Esto esta me cha cha (Cha cha Espagnol) Nino
229b Bidame ya Rocka' (Rumba Lingala) Nino
230a Cha cha cha rock (Cha cha Espagnol) Bruno
230b Tozongi na Leo (Rumba Lingala) Bruno
232a Felicidad (Bolero) Papa Noel
232b Whisky (Guaracha) Papa Noel
62.134B Marie Moyanzi (Rumba Lingala) Jacquy
b/w Jacquy cha cha cha (Cha cha Espagnol) Jacquy
62.136B Memories of you (Slow) Nino
b/w Allegria (Cha cha Espagnol) Nino
62.138B Linga baboti ba ngai (Rumba Lingala) Tino Barozza
b/w Cambronetta (Cha cha Espagnol) Tino Barozza
62.140B Ali Baba mwana Lipopoville (Cha cha Lingala) Tino Barozza
b/w Marie Alphonsine (Cha cha Lingala) Tino Barozza
62.141B Monot et Titine (Rumba Lingala) Papa Noel
b/w Kozanga baboti pasi (Rumba Lingala) Papa Noel
62.142B Kele mamie (Cha cha Lingala) Rossignol
b/w Souvenir de Gabon (Cha cha Lingala) Rossignol
62.148B Rock-a mambo o mobembo (Cha cha Espagnol) Rossignol
b/w Es el amor (Cha cha Espagnol) Rossignol
62.149B Bail la bamba (Merengue Espagnol) Papa Noel
b/w Montagne compagneiro (Merengue Espagnol) Papa Noel
62.150B Solerico (Cha cha Espagnol) Nino
b/w Oiga mambo (Cha cha Espagnol) Nino
501a Yamare (Cha cha Espagnol) Nino ESDF 1380
501b Iyele (Guaracha Espagnol) Nino ESDF 1380
502a Boboyisi ngai mwasi (Merengue Lingala) Bruno
502b Naleli dimanche M. (Rumba Lingala) Bruno
538a Omoni te (Cha cha Lingala) Tino Barozza
538b Bambanda baleki (Merengue Lingala) Tino Barozza

unknown catalog number Esengo singles (78RPM):

Mabe na yo moko (Lucie Eyenga) Orchestre Rock-A-Mambo
b/w Brigitte (Lucie Eyenga) Orchestre Rock-A-Mambo

Francisca wa bolingo - Lemy, Rossignol & Orchestre Rock-a-Mambo
b/w Cha cha cha (charmante) - Kabasele, Rossignol & Orchestre Rock-a-Mambo

Stray single on Fiesta label (45RPM):
Franck & l'Orchestre Rock a Festival: "Elie" b/w "Club le monde" Fiesta 51.091 1971