Jupiter & Okwess

Jupiter & Okwess is singer-songwriter and percussionist Jupiter Bokondji and his band Okwess, who engage in an infectious blend of music that takes Afrobeat, Congolese rumba, and Congolese funk as its foundation. They mix some rock muscle into their music, as well as some Latin styles, especially cumbia. They have an entertaining and energetic style that successfully took them from busking in the streets of Kinsasha to the world stage. Even though Bakandji has been creating music for decades going back to the '90s, it was this particular formation with Okwess that ended up bringing him international recognition. The band benefits a great deal from the top-notch musicianship on board, including a powerful rhythm section and a jangly dual guitar attack that keeps the music in constant motion.