A few years ago, while researching the political history of Congo/Zaire/Congo via the country’s music archive, particularly through the output of Luambo Makiadi aka Franco, we turned to the legendary record collection of “Jumbo” Donald Vanrenen – a scholar of late-style rumba and early soukouss (a sound he helped construct via various A&R gigs in the-then burgeoning studio scenes of Paris and London). Jumbo didn’t only lend records for this mix, he offered advice, contacts, context. That is the kind of man he was – to his last day here, ears tuned to what is next. Go well, elder..
