pt.II Utrecht 9-5-1987, Franco & le T.P. O.K. Jazz

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00:01 Chacun Pour Soi (Josky Kiambukuta)
03:59 Pesa Position Na Yo (Madilu System)
13:14 Très Faché (Franco)
19:54 Mario (Franco)
25:14 Kinsiona (Franco)
29:21 Mawe (Ndombe Opetum)
34:04 Tokoma Bacamarade Pamba (Franco)

After having seen the orchestra play to a Zaïrean audience in a Brussels nightclub only three weeks earlier, this show was a huge disappointment to me. In Brussels, there had been room for subtlety and intimacy, that show had lasted for nearly 7 hours and the mixing had been excellent, because the person at the soundboard understood the music. They had been playing a home match.

This concert in Utrecht, however, was more like going to the zoo for the audience (actually, the festival took place in a hall built over an ice-rink) and playing an away match for the orchestra. The mix was horrible because, to name one detail, the heart of the music, Franco's guitar, was practically inaudible. So to me, the only songs worth listening to here, are the ones in which Franco does not touch his guitar: Kinsiona, Oh! Miguel and Testament Ya Bowule, in which Franco does not participate at all, but which is partly spoilt by a member of the audience who does not have a clue this is a particularly sad song. (Bowule and Miguel are on part I.)

Anyway, since clips from this show are all over YT at a quality level that defies description, I decided to post this anyway. This is from a dvd, the other post is from a video tape. When Franco signed the deal to play at this festival, he signed away the rights to the recordings. Ntesa Dalienst and several musicians involved with whom we discussed LP's, cd's and videos recorded that day, were upset about these releases.

Compare to Brussels, only three weeks earlier:
Testament Ya Bowule    • Testament Ya Bowule (Lutumba Simaro) - T.P...  
Medecin de Nuit    • Medecin de Nuit (Josky Kiambukuta) - Franc...  
1950's Medley    • Tomesani Zonga Coco / Aime Wa Bolingo / Zo...  
Boma Ngai, Ngai Na Boma Yo To Bomana    • Boma Ngai, Ngai Na Boma Yo To Bomana (Madi...  
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