Grand Kalle & L'African Jazz

Kalle earned acclaim as the originator of contemporary Congolese and Zairean pop while also holding the distinction of the first Grand Master of Zairean music, establishing him as a musician of immense reach and impact. His path opened with the creation of African Jazz, a foundational Afro-Cuban ensemble that quickly became the leading early act in the scene and featured guitarist Dr. Nico along with Rochereau among its rotating members. In 1960 he founded the Surboum African Jazz label, which provided a home for the superstar group OK Jazz. Kalle arranged contracts with European labels that delivered superior recordings of his bands’ work across the Francophone market.