1. Kasongo Boogaloo
2. Malambo - Ricardo Lemvo, Luambo, Franco
3. O Casamento (Foi Cancelado)
4. Lollobrigida - Ricardo Lemvo, Baroza, Tino
5. Habari Yako
6. Serenata Angolana
7. Mentirosa
8. Isabela
9. Prima Donna
10. Pap Na Bana
11. Elbette - Ricardo Lemvo, Erçetin, Candan
Amazon.com
Congo-born, Los Angeles-based singer-composer-bandleader Lemvo has been mixing the guitar-driven form of rumba he heard growing up in his homeland's capital city of Kinshasa, with its Cuban forebears--five-centuries-worth of Spanish melodies mixed with African rhythms--for a very long time. For his fifth album, which is named for his newborn daughter, he has wisely concluded that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." The result is a deliriously joyous batch of bold-and-brassy, accordion-laced, percussive, sinfully melodic hip-swingers sung in several languages, but not only in the expected Congolese Lingala dialect, French and Spanish. For example, "Serenata Angolana," with sultry second lead vocals by Cape Verdean star Maria De Barros, is interpreted in Portuguese as a tribute to Lemvo's Angolese grandfather. But "Elebette," while transformed into a slinky bolero, is performed in the original Turkish. If "Malambo," written by the late, great Franco Luambo, and Tino Baroza's '50s-vintage "Lollobigida" constitute a return to the old nabe, "Mentirosa," with its gently propulsive charanga violins and flute, is more redolent of Havana by moonlight. Among the talent on hand, stand-outs include legends like guitarists Papa Noel, Bopol and Huit Kilos, singers Nyboma and Wuta Mayi, and bassist Miguel Yamba, but this is to name only a few. Fans of Africando and Kékélé should definitely snap this one up. --Christina Roden
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Isabela
- Audio CD: 0 pages (2007-03-20)
- Publisher: Mopiato Music
- Label: Mopiato Music
- Studio: Mopiato Music
- Average Customer Review:
 based on 4 reviews
- Sales Rank in Music: #51010
Avg. Customer Review:
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating: 
Summary: An album made with the tools of globalization and modernity. 2008-11-12
Comment: Why do I say that? Well Lemvo gathered musicians from around the globe to create this album. His creativity shows in every song. I really doubt they all got together in one studio set to record, it is more likely the guests added their parts from studios close to their residence.
As usual his mix shows a very strong salsa flavor combined with the flavor of west Africa. On this album however he really went off the deep end when it came to the languages, he even sings in Turkish! In the end that becomes a bit of a distraction for me.
This time he has many guest artists such as violinist Alfredo De La Fe and rapper Cubanito 20.02 to broaden his Cuban sound, and famous Africans I can't recall to add that African touch.
In the end it sounded a bit too big for me, it has less of the humor and intimacy his previous albums had. This is almost like a Putumayo compilation of African and Cuban sounds, only by a single artist. Don't get me wrong, with so many great artists you will not be disapointed.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating:
Summary: World Music at its Best 2007-10-11
Comment: While all of his work has been excellent, Ricardo Lemvo's "Isabela" is his most superb album yet. Lemvo here has achieved a seamless integration of African and Cuban music. The music is so joyous and infectious, it is easy to overlook its complexity and craftsmanship. And there's even a song in Turkish thrown in for good measure.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating:
Summary: Around the world in 45 minutes 2007-08-22
Comment: Let Ricardo take you on a musical ride around the world with this album - all the way from Congo to Cuba with a little stop in Turkey. How can you resist this journey?
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating:
Summary: Beautiful music to my ears..... 2007-06-23
Comment: I had heard bits and pieces of Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca in the past, but I had never really taken the time to listen to and appreciate their distinctive style(s) and the authentic touch they give to African salsa (Lemvo is from Democratic Republic of the Congo) as well as the other genres they play (boogaloo, son, kizomba, rumba, and bolero, among others). Their style is reminiscent of Africando, another wonderful band made up of a cross-section of very diverse musicians (from Mali and Cuba, just to name a couple of countries). The songs on this album are in Spanish, Lingala, Kikongo, Swahili, Portuguese, and Turkish [yes, I said Turkish]. Never have so many languages and types of music (and rhythms) melded so beautifully together.
Though, I was really a great fan of salsa music, and enjoyed learning about different styles, that isn't the limit of my musical scope and interest. This album starts out with the style of boogaloo, with "Kasongo Boogaloo." It's peppy and is modelled after the boogaloo music that originated in the Nuyoriquen (New York Puerto Rican) communities. Yet, it sounds different. What makes it so distinctive? Lemvo mixes the languages of Spanish and Lingala together, and the percussion sounds more rootbound to the African origins of Latin music styles we have come to know today. It has a great, earthy and organic feel. I also highly reccomend the beautiful boleros and heavenly ballad featured on the album ("Habari Yako," "Elbette," and "Serenata Angolana"). This album is gorgeous, people. If you haven't heard of Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca up until now, you will be a convert to their musical repertoire after listening to these beautiful songs.
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Isabela
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