Vincent Kenis
Encyclopedia
Vincent Kenis is a Belgian musician and record producer. He was a member of the avant-garde
group Aksak Maboul
(Onze Danses Pour Combattre la Migraine
, 1977) and of The Honeymoon Killers
, an experimental rock band (Les Tueurs de la Lune de Miel, 1982). As a musician, he also collaborated with Congolese artists such as OK Jazz
's Franco Luambo Makiadi (La Réponse de Mario, 1988) and Papa Wemba
(La Vie est belle, 1989).
Closely associated with Belgian label Crammed Discs
since its inception, both as an in-house producer and an A&R, he co-produced the seminal Noir et Blanc album by Zazou Bikaye (with Hector Zazou
and Bony Bikaye, 1983), one of the first albums which blended electronic and African music. He produced the first album by acapella band Zap Mama
, and several albums by Balkan Gypsy bands Taraf de Haïdouks and Kocani Orkestar
, while also being involved in the sonic design of many Crammed releases, including albums by Tuxedomoon
, Cibelle
, Zuco 103
, as well as the label's purely electronic output during the '90s (such as the Freezone compilations).
He has compiled an anthology of early Congolese rumba (Roots Of Rumba-Rock, 1991, re-issued in 2006).
Since 2004, Vincent Kenis has developed the Congotronics series
(on Crammed Discs
), which popularized electro-traditional music from the suburbs of Kinshasa
(Democratic Republic of Congo). He "re-discovered" Konono N°1
, whom he encouraged to reform and record again. The resulting albums (Congotronics, 2005 and Live At Couleur Café, 2007) have earned the band worldwide recognition, as well as a BBC World Music Award (2006) and a nomination for a Grammy Award (2008).
Vincent Kenis' recent productions include an album by Malian Tuareg band Tartit
(Abacabok, 2006), the multi-artist Congotronics 2 CD/DVD, featuring other Congotronics
-style bands such as Kisanzi Kongo, Masanka Sankayi, Basokin, Konono N°1
and Kasai Allstars
(Congotronics 2, 2006), the debut album by Kasai Allstars
(In The 7th Moon, The Chief Turned Into A Swimming Fish And Ate The Head Of His Enemy By Magic, 2008), and Très Très Fort by Kinshasa band Staff Benda Bilili
(2009).
Avant-garde
Avant-garde means "advance guard" or "vanguard". The adjective form is used in English to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics....
group Aksak Maboul
Aksak Maboul
Aksak Maboul were a Belgian avant-rock band founded in 1977 by Marc Hollander and Vincent Kenis. They made two studio albums, Onze Danses Pour Combattre la Migraine and Un Peu de l'Âme des Bandits , the last one with ex-Henry Cow members Chris Cutler and Fred Frith...
(Onze Danses Pour Combattre la Migraine
Onze Danses Pour Combattre la Migraine
Onze Danses Pour Combattre la Migraine is the debut album by Belgian avant-rock band Aksak Maboul. It was largely the work of one of the band's co-founders, Marc Hollander and was credited to Marc Hollander/Aksak Maboul...
, 1977) and of The Honeymoon Killers
The Honeymoon Killers (band)
The Honeymoon Killers were a Belgian experimental rock band originally formed in 1974 by Yvon Vromman, with J.F Jones Jacob, and Gérald Fenerberg...
, an experimental rock band (Les Tueurs de la Lune de Miel, 1982). As a musician, he also collaborated with Congolese artists such as OK Jazz
OK Jazz
TPOK Jazz, originally known as OK Jazz, was a rumba band in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, from June 1956 until December 1993.-Location:...
's Franco Luambo Makiadi (La Réponse de Mario, 1988) and Papa Wemba
Papa Wemba
Papa Wemba was born Jules Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba in 1949 in Lubefu . He is a Congolese rumba musician, one of Africa's most popular musicians, and prominent in World music.-Zaiko Langa Langa:...
(La Vie est belle, 1989).
Closely associated with Belgian label Crammed Discs
Crammed Discs
Crammed Discs is an independent record label whose output blends world music, rock, pop, and electronica. Based in Brussels, Belgium, Crammed was founded in 1980 by Marc Hollander of Aksak Maboul and has since released over 300 albums and 250 singles, working with artists from all over the world...
since its inception, both as an in-house producer and an A&R, he co-produced the seminal Noir et Blanc album by Zazou Bikaye (with Hector Zazou
Hector Zazou
Hector Zazou was a prolific French composer and record producer who worked with, produced, and collaborated with an international array of recording artists...
and Bony Bikaye, 1983), one of the first albums which blended electronic and African music. He produced the first album by acapella band Zap Mama
Zap Mama
Zap Mama is a Belgian musical group founded and led by Marie Daulne. Daulne says her mission is to be a bridge between the European and the African and bring the two cultures together with her music...
, and several albums by Balkan Gypsy bands Taraf de Haïdouks and Kocani Orkestar
Kocani Orkestar
Kočani orkestar also credited under the names: Kocani orkestar, Kocani Orchestra, Kochani orkestar and Kochani Orchestra is a Macedonian Romani brass band from Kočani, Macedonia led by Naat Veliov .Kočani orkestar are among the funkiest exponents of the Balkan brass band style which is found across...
, while also being involved in the sonic design of many Crammed releases, including albums by Tuxedomoon
Tuxedomoon
Tuxedomoon is an experimental post-punk/New Wave group formed in San Francisco, California, consisting of core members Blaine L. Reininger, Steven Brown and Peter Principle....
, Cibelle
Cibelle
Cibelle is a multi-media performance artist, singer-songwriter and music producer. Cibelle’s music is difficult to classify; she has been called a self-styled purveyor of “Tropical Punk”.-Biography:...
, Zuco 103
Zuco 103
Zuco 103 is a Dutch musical ensemble which plays music chiefly in the styles of the music of Brazil.The ensemble was initially founded under the name Rec.a in 1989 by students at the Rotterdam Conservatory...
, as well as the label's purely electronic output during the '90s (such as the Freezone compilations).
He has compiled an anthology of early Congolese rumba (Roots Of Rumba-Rock, 1991, re-issued in 2006).
Since 2004, Vincent Kenis has developed the Congotronics series
Congotronics series
The Congotronics series is a collection of albums devoted to electrified traditional music from the Congo, curated and produced by Vincent Kenis for the Crammed Discs label....
(on Crammed Discs
Crammed Discs
Crammed Discs is an independent record label whose output blends world music, rock, pop, and electronica. Based in Brussels, Belgium, Crammed was founded in 1980 by Marc Hollander of Aksak Maboul and has since released over 300 albums and 250 singles, working with artists from all over the world...
), which popularized electro-traditional music from the suburbs of Kinshasa
Kinshasa
Kinshasa is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The city is located on the Congo River....
(Democratic Republic of Congo). He "re-discovered" Konono N°1
Konono N°1
Konono Nº1 is a Grammy nominated musical group from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. They combine three electric likembé with voices, dancers, and percussion instruments that are made out of items salvaged from a junkyard...
, whom he encouraged to reform and record again. The resulting albums (Congotronics, 2005 and Live At Couleur Café, 2007) have earned the band worldwide recognition, as well as a BBC World Music Award (2006) and a nomination for a Grammy Award (2008).
Vincent Kenis' recent productions include an album by Malian Tuareg band Tartit
Tartit
The Ensemble Tartit are a band from the Tombouctou Region of Mali. The group comprised five women and four men, all of whom are members of the Tamasheq ethnic group...
(Abacabok, 2006), the multi-artist Congotronics 2 CD/DVD, featuring other Congotronics
Congotronics
Congotronics is the official debut album by Konono Nº1. It was released in 2004. by Crammed Discs. It has won the band massive favour in the dance and alternative rock scenes as well as in world music circles and in the North American and European media....
-style bands such as Kisanzi Kongo, Masanka Sankayi, Basokin, Konono N°1
Konono N°1
Konono Nº1 is a Grammy nominated musical group from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. They combine three electric likembé with voices, dancers, and percussion instruments that are made out of items salvaged from a junkyard...
and Kasai Allstars
Kasai Allstars
Kasai Allstars are a 25-piece musical collective based in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. The musicians originally come from five bands, all from the Kasai region, but originating from five different ethnic groups: the Songye, Lulua, Tetela, Luba, and Luntu...
(Congotronics 2, 2006), the debut album by Kasai Allstars
Kasai Allstars
Kasai Allstars are a 25-piece musical collective based in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. The musicians originally come from five bands, all from the Kasai region, but originating from five different ethnic groups: the Songye, Lulua, Tetela, Luba, and Luntu...
(In The 7th Moon, The Chief Turned Into A Swimming Fish And Ate The Head Of His Enemy By Magic, 2008), and Très Très Fort by Kinshasa band Staff Benda Bilili
Staff Benda Bilili
Staff Benda Bilili are a group of street musicians in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They live around the grounds of the zoo in the countries capital city, Kinshasa, and play music which is rooted in rumba, with elements of old-school rhythm 'n' blues and reggae...
(2009).
External links
- Discography on Discogs
- http://crammed.be.dd5126.kasserver.com/index.php?id=34&art_id=134Vincent Kenis on the Crammed DiscsCrammed DiscsCrammed Discs is an independent record label whose output blends world music, rock, pop, and electronica. Based in Brussels, Belgium, Crammed was founded in 1980 by Marc Hollander of Aksak Maboul and has since released over 300 albums and 250 singles, working with artists from all over the world...
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