Mick Hartley

It's merengue, Jim, but not as we know it.

I've posted about the great Congolese musician Franco before. Now here's one of his contemporaries, the guitarist Dr Nico. His sound's been compared to a ringing bell. You'll hear why:

The way he hits that same note again and again at 0:40….

That's Dr Nico at the back on the right. The group was African Jazz, and the time 1960: the same date as their classic Independence Cha Cha.

More of Dr Nico's beautiful guitar here and here. 

Not just a forgotten by-way in the history of music. He was one of the founders of Congo/Zaire's guitar-based soukous sound. Later on Jimi Hendrix paid his respects on a personal visit while on tour in Paris.