Niwel Tsumbu is an accomplished Congolese singer, guitarist and composer domiciled in Ireland. For this, his third and mainly electric album, he has roped in some key local and international musicians to create an exhilarating musical gumbo. It’s more upbeat than his previous outings too, blending African folk, rock and jazz leanings into an unmissable listening experience.
While his voice reeks of the heat and dust of central Africa, Tsumbu’s guitar-playing is a thing of joy, and he gives full rein to his sinuous guitar lines over Diego Joacquin Ramirez’ thunderous drumming on the lengthy ‘Heartbeat’. Hungarian Peter Erdei brings a funky bass to the exuberant ‘Wake Up’, and the melodically smooth and snazzy ‘Oh Mon Frere’, fuelled by drummer Andre Artunes, has a delicious lilt to its skittering rhythms. Singer Aoife Doyle, and Liam Ó Maonlaí on vocals and whistle, feature on the evocative ‘Freezing Cold’. On the fiery ‘Bakoko’, Tsumbu and his musical mates stretch beyond Africa into avant-jazz territory, with blazing sax from Peter Dobai, while ‘Nsiama’ opens with the sound of water before erupting into a feast of harmonious voices, shifting rhythms, magical sounds and ethereal guitar playing.
That overseas musicians like Tsumbu are now adding their own patterns to the rich Irish musical tapestry is a matter for celebration. We should embrace him while he’s among us.