Kongo Dia Ntotila

Kongo Dia Ntotila play KONGO JAZZ: a fusion of African roots-inspired beats and bass grooves with jazzy guitars and soul-rousing synergistic brass.

Their sound is a blend of Africa’s finest dance music styles, revived and modernised. They draw on a breadth of African rhythmic and sonic traditions, with influences of Congolese rumba and the sunshine sounds of seben guitar, seamlessly fused with a neat dose of jazz. It is pure Afro-joy: dance-inducing beats, polyrhythmic guitars, grooving bass and soaring brass.

The band comprises three UK jazz players on guitar, saxophone and trumpet; with drummer, bass player, and rhythm guitarist from Kinshasa, DRC. They have been described by Tom Robinson as “musicians of the very very highest standard,” and “totally authentic - as good as anything you get coming out of Africa,” while Max Reinhardt has called band leader Mulele, “a visionary bassist”.

Championed by BBC DJs Tom Robinson and Max Reinhardt, Kongo Dia Ntotila have featured on BBC Introducing, BBC World Service, BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio London, Soho Radio for a live session recording direct to vinyl and BBC6 Music where they performed a live session on the Tom Robinson Show. Tom has described the music as “a great combination of sophistication, energy, musicianship and pure life-affirming spiritual uplift!” while Max Reinhardt (BBC3) says of Kongo Dia Ntotila live shows: “Wherever they go they bring a raucously joyful party with them.”