Passi Jo & Warako Musica
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Passi Jo & Warako Musica

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Music

The best kept secret in music

Press


""Local Flavour""

“Warako Musica feature a bunch of some of the best African musicians living in Australia, fronted by vocalists Passi Jo and Tchico Tchicaya. Anyone with more than a passing interest in Congolese rumba and soukouss will be familiar with these two names. Passi Jo who now resides in Melbourne is from Kinshasa, Zaire and was the founder in 1986 (together with the brilliant Syran Mbenza of Les Quatre Etoiles and Jean Papy) of Kass Kass one of the hottest soukouss groups ever that often accompanied the great Pepe Kalle and 4 Etoiles on tour. In fact Passi Jo lends his great vocals to the latter's classic Sangononi CD, one of the greatest rumba-soukouss recordings ever.

Without a doubt this is the hottest African band playing in Australia today, and one of the best in the world.”

Richard Jasiutowicz, Hemispheres 2000 review - Diaspora Magazine


""Wonders of winter celebrated""

" A highlight of the festival will be the Warako Musica African music and dance group. The group, lead by Passi Jo and Tchico Tchicaya fuses Soukouss, Afro-beat, Latin, Cuban and caribbean rhythms to creat a unique style of dance music. The group has been met with rave reviews and full houses around Australia." - The Chronicle, Ballarat


""Radio keeps passing him by""

"While the name Passi Jo may not ring any bells with many Australian music fans, in Africa and Europe, particularly France, it has become almost legendary.

But renowned African singer-songwriter and musician Joseph Passi, who has topped European charts as Passi Jo, is struggling to get air time on Melbourne radio...

He has toured Africa, the US and Australia with both Kass Kass Man and African All-Stars as lead singer." - MixDown Magazine


"Hemispheres 2000 review"

“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 Passi Jo ensure that audiences are not left standing still for a moment.” - 3PBS - Systa BB


"Queenscliff Music Festival 1999"

“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!” - Beat Magazine


Discography

2009 - Re-release of Kass Kass LPs – Kass Kass & Kass Tout (2LPs on 1CD);
2000 - Warako Musica (Passi Jo, the Guru Man & Tchico Tchicaya, the Golden Voice)
1999 - The very best of Passi Jo Les Hommes Voltigeurs
1998 - Kass Kass Man (with the best of Paris AS)

Photos

Bio

Warako Musica has been one of Australia’s most energetic and dynamic African bands. Originally lead by internationally acclaimed African singers Passi Jo and Tchico Tchicaya, Warako Musica was formed in 1998, and has toured and played to packed audiences across Australia. Together with African and Australian musicians, they combine sensual rumba and African Soukous grooves, with Cuban and Salsa styles. As part of their act the band, under the sensual choreography of Passi Jo, showcases some of the most passionate soukous dancing that is visually exciting and stunning to watch.
Passi Jo was born in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire) and is a descendant of the Balari troubadours, who travelled from village to village singing about the joys and sorrows of everyday life. He has worked with some of the greatest African musicians including Verkys, Sam Mangwana, and Quatre Etoiles. In the early nineties his original composition Mama Helena was a number one hit.
In 2000, Warako Musica was awarded ‘Best Live World Act’ at the Australian Music Foundation Awards in Melbourne.