Staff Benda Bilili September 30, 2011

Boston Debut

"Staff Benda Bilili would be a remarkable band regardless of their background. Not only do they sound incredible, they exude an inscrutable cool.”—The Guardian

With the irresistible pulse of Congolese rumba, Cuban swing and James Brown-inspired funk, Staff Benda Bilili’s inspirational concerts and extraordinary story have caused a sensation across the globe. A group of paraplegic street musicians who live in and around the Kinshasa Zoo, the band consists of four seasoned singer/guitarists perched on spectacular customized tricycles, backed by a young acoustic rhythm section and a teenage prodigy who plays infectious guitar-like solos on a one-string electric lute he designed and built out of a tin can. A critically acclaimed feature film about the group is due to open in cinemas across the US this fall.

Official Website: http://www.worldmusic.org/staff-benda-bilili-0-881