 |
| Featuring
Passi Jo &
WINNER - BEST LIVE WORLD MUSIC ACT IN AUSTRALIA 2000 National Live Music Awards
Warako Musica is led by internationally acclaimed African singers Passi Jo and Tchico Tchicaya, who have toured extensively throughout the world. The group fuse Soukouss, Afro-Beat, Latin, Cuban and Caribbean rhythms creating irresistible dance music. Warako Musica have been featured on the ABC National Music Television series Studio 22, inducing a dance sensation amongst the studio audience. They have played to capacity audiences at venues in Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth International Festival, Byron Bay and Sydney as well as national and statewide festivals. They were headlining act of the Bellingen Global Carnival in NSW and voted most liked group of the festival, and in September 2000 featured at the Hemispheres Global music concert in Sydney as part of the Olympic Games celebrations. The performance at Hemispheres was outstanding bringing a non stop dance frenzie leaving the audience demanding more with a huge up roar for the encore, producing one of the largest responses of all groups at the festival. They are extremely energetic, dynamic and entertaining performers unlike any other world music group. In fact in October 2000 the group was awarded with Best Live World Music Act in Australia. Passi Jo is now residing permanently in Australia, although he continues to join the other members of Kass Kass in Europe for tours and concerts. His latest CD Kass Kass Man has recently been released in Australia and is without a doubt one of the hottest Soukous Dance Albums to be heard. The CD was recorded in Paris, with other great musicians including Syran M'Benza, Nyboma, Miguel, Ti Paul, Bo Paul Kichar and many others all well known and easily recognised on this CD for their own individual styles. PASSI JO - TCHICO TCHICAYA are accompanied by leading African Musicians forming WARAKO MUSICA and stirring audiences with their electrifying rhythms. The group contains two of possibly the hottest international Soukous singing stars which also combine sensual Rumba rhythms, Salsa, African grooves, Soukous, lively lead guitar, horn section and percussion, to create a sound that is guaranteed to make you move. In performance, the passion of Warako Musica's brilliant music is matched by the visual excitement of choreographed dance. For those who love African Music or for others who just want to dance, this is a group you should not miss. 
REVIEWS "You won't be able to sit still…..".
"It's never been so hot here in Studio 22….." "The highlight of the weekend was
certainly Warako Musica the immensely energetic African band fusing
Soukouss, Afro Beat, Latin, Cuban and Caribbean rhythms into a show
to be relished for years to come - the dancing was something else!".
Queenscliff Music Festival Review by Justin Petherick-Szwaja. "Passi Jo and Tchico Tchicaya are
the real thing with immaculate Zairian/Congolese dance music pedigrees.
They had the audience energetically moving from their very first
notes that never let up throughout their extended sets. With swirling
guitars, impassioned vocals and smooth stage choreography, Warako
Musica definitely delivered maximum soukouss!". "Warako Musica are the most exciting
bunch of musicians to hit Melbourne in a long while. Mixing up Congolese
rumba, soukouss and Cuban rhythms this outfit shows the best that
African rhythm has to offer. Infectious grooves laid down by legendary
guitarist Tchico Tchicaya, complemented by the croons of Jo Passi
ensure that audiences are not left standing still for a moment." "Shake it, No Worries. The superb
blend of classic rumba and Soukouss (Shake your Body) peppered with
very fresh musical ideas and top vocalists Passi Jo, Tchico Tchicaya
and band Warako Musica have got the perfect recipe to shake this
nation. (Australia) No Worries".  |
 |
"..without a doubt this is the hottest African band playing in Australia today, and one of the best in the world". Richard Jasiutowicz Warako Musica review Diaspora Magazine Sept 2000. "Absolutely the best African/World Music dance act around" Queenscliff Music Festival Program 1999 |
PASSI JO was born in Kinshasa, Zaire and is a descendent
of the Balari troubadours, who travelled from village to village
singing about love, hate, death, friendship and all aspects of daily
life in Africa. Passi Jo's musical career began when his family
moved to Brazzaville, Congo. He began composing his own music; being
influenced by Wara Wara and Patinge both well known Bacongo rhythms.
He has performed in various Congolese and Zairen bands featuring
as lead singer and Chef D Orchestre. He was invited, by the well-known
saxophone player Verckys to join his band Veve, in Kinshasa, as
singer and Chef D Orchestre. To advance his international career,
Passi Jo moved to Europe, where he formed the group LES OFFICERS,
in Paris. Les Officers toured all over Europe with great success.
In 1986 KASS KASS was formed by Passi Jo, together with Syran M'Benza,
and Jean Papy. This group proved to be very popular and toured throughout
the United States, Europe, Colombia, Jamaica and numerous African
countries. They also joined with Pepe Kale and The Four Stars on
world tours. 
TCHICO -TCHICAYA The Golden Voice of Africa. Tchico is one
of the few African musicians to have sold over 3 million albums
worldwide. He has been awarded three golden records and, with twenty
years experience in the business, has thirty albums to his name.
Beginning in 1969, Tchico originally performed as a solo singer
in Congo, which is his country of birth. He left Congo for Nigeria
in 1976, where he stayed for the next five years and was awarded
his first Gold Record for his song "Mamy-Rose" which sold more than
800,000 copies. Since then, he has built a reputation, which has
spread worldwide. In 1983 Tchico established himself in Paris where
he founded his group "Soukous Machine". With this group he toured
all continents, entertaining and delighting people and bringing
to many for the first time the joyous, vibrant sounds of African/Soukous
music.