biography

Passi Jo was born in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire) and is a direct descendent of the Balari Troubadours who travelled from village to village singing about love, hate, death, friendship and all aspects of everyday life in Africa. Passi Jo has continued to embrace this musical legacy in his own independent musical career in Africa, Europe and now in Australia.

In 1982 he moved to Paris and began a chain of successful international tours that introduced and endeared him to fans throughout Europe, North and South America, and Oceania, as well as continuing his popularity in his African homeland.

He has performed with some of the world’s best and most renowned musicians, including Super Boboto SBB, Veve, OK Band, Singa Muambe, Panafrican, Trio Madjesi, Kass Kass, Abeti Masekini, Sam Mangwana, Essous Jean Serges, Teo Blaise, The Four Stars (Les Quatre Etoiles), Tabu Ley Rochereau & Afrisa International Orchestra, Moses Fan Fan; and on the same billing with Manu Dibango, Ray Barretto, Jose Feliciano, Barry White, James Brown, and the original Fania Allstars with Johnny Pacheco in the music festival leading up to the big fight between Ali & Foreman; Coupe Cloue from Haiti... and many more.

In 1990 he toured Australia with Tchico Tchicaya, and relocated permanently to Australia in 1993. His musical career has spanned three decades and he has released more than 15 albums during this time. With Tchico Tchicaya, he formed Warako Musica in 1998.

Passi Jo passed away on the 6th of November 2016 in Melbourne, Australia.

Selected International Biography

1993 Kilimanjaro Club, Washington DC, USA
1992 Omni Club, Oakland, San Francisco, USA
Makawao, Maui, Hawaii, USA.
Ottowa & Toronto, Canada
1991 Africa Tour, with Pepe Kalle & Kass Kass,
International Conference Centre & Rufaro Stadium, Harare, Ascot Stadium, Gweru, also Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe
1990 Moreland Hotel & Hilton Hotel, Melbourne, Australia
1989 Silver Jubilee Music Festival, Nyayo National Stadium, Kenya
1988 Stadium, Burkino Faso
1987 London, UK
Sorano & Stadium Demba Diop, Senegal
Kerry Festival, Holland
African Caribbean Festival, Dusseldorf, Germany
1986 Formation of Kass Kass Band, Paris, France
1984 Formation of Les Officers, Paris, France
1974 International Music Festival prior to “Rumble In The Jungle” fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, Zaire
1971 Russian Tour including Moscow, Moldavia, Kieshnev, & Kolcoze
1970 Founding member of group “Les Feres” (the brothers), Brazzaville, Congo

Warako Musica has been one of Australia’s most energetic and dynamic African bands. Originally lead by internationally acclaimed African singers Passi Jo and Tchico Tchicaya, Warako Musica was formed in 1998, and has toured and played to packed audiences across Australia. Together with African and Australian musicians, they combine sensual rumba and African Soukous grooves, with Cuban and Salsa styles. As part of their act the band, under the sensual choreography of Passi Jo, showcases some of the most passionate soukous dancing that is visually exciting and stunning to watch.

Passi Jo was born in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire) and is a descendant of the Balari troubadours, who travelled from village to village singing about the joys and sorrows of everyday life. He has worked with some of the greatest African musicians including Verkys, Sam Mangwana, and Quatre Etoiles. In the early nineties his original composition Mama Helena was a number one hit.

In 2000, Warako Musica was awarded ‘Best Live World Act’ at the Australian Music Foundation Awards in Melbourne.

CD Releases

2009 Kass Kass - Kass Kass /Kass Tout (Re-release of 2 Kass Kass albums on 1CD)
2000 Warako Musica (Passi Jo, the Guru Man & Tchico Tchicaya, the Golden Voice)


Dance Classes, Workshops & Performances

2011

Dancehouse, Carlton, Vic.
Broken Mirror Productions Studio, Brunswick, Vic.
A Private View – Skinned Exhibition opening, Buninyong Brewery, Vic.

2010

Dancehouse, Carlton, Vic.
North Melbourne Library (Cultural Diversity Week), Melbourne, Vic.
Ballarat African Association, Ballarat, Vic.

2009 Congo Cuba Nkumba Fitzroy Town Hall, Melbourne, Vic.
Dancehouse, Carlton, Vic.
VoyeuRhythmics Drumming Centre, St. Kilda, Vic.
2007 Shirley Robertson Children’s Centre, Coburg, Vic.
2002 Woodford Folk Festival, Woodford, Qld.
2001 Tinturn Anglican Girls Grammar School, Ringwood, Vic.
Flemington Community Centre, Flemington, Vic.
Port Fairy Folk Festival, Port Fairy, Vic.


Selected Music Performances

2011 Globe to Globe City of Kingston Music Festival, Melbourne, Vic.
Darebin Music Feast, Northcote Town Hall & Uniting Church, Melbourne, Vic.
The LuWoW, Melbourne, Vic.
2010 Moomba Festival, Melbourne, Vic.
Pata Pata, Club Wild, North Melbourne Town Hall, Melbourne, Vic.
2009 Melbourne Fringe Festival, The Spot, Brunswick, Vic.
Go Tribal, Spensers Live, Melbourne, Vic.
2008 African Music Fundraiser for victims of post election violence in Kenya, Prahran Town Hall, Melbourne, Vic.
2007 Melbourne Food & Wine Festival, Federation Square, Melbourne, Vic.
Esplanade Hotel, St Kilda, Vic.
2006 Corner Hotel, Melbourne, Vic.
East Timor Benefit, Woodend, Vic.
Queenscliff Music Festival, Queenscliff, Vic.
Corner Hotel, Melbourne, Vic.
Palais, Hepburn Springs, Vic.
Celebrate The Bean, Melbourne Food & Wine Festival, Melbourne, Vic.
Moonee Valley Festival, Melbourne, Vic.
Summer & Winter Tropicana Festivals, Adelaide, SA.
2004 Square Beats, Federation Square, Melbourne, Vic.
Tropicana Festival, Adelaide, S.A,
Governor Hindmarsh Hotel, Adelaide, S.A.
2003 Open House Weekend, BMW Edge, Federation Square, Melbourne, Vic.
2002 Woodford Folk Festival, Queensland.
3rd Anniversary Performance, Prince Patrick Hotel, Melbourne, Vic.
The Governor Hindmarsh Hotel, Adelaide, SA. + The Sandbar, Mildura, S.A.
Victorian Arts Centre, Melbourne, Vic.
2001 Afro-Reggae Explosion, Corner Hotel, Melbourne, Vic.
Opening Ceremony, National Museum, Canberra, ACT.
Port Fairy Folk Festival, Port Fairy, Vic.
Moonee Valley Music Festival, Moonee Ponds, Melb. Vic.
Daylesford Songwriters Festival, Daylesford, Vic.
Tintern Anglican Girls Grammar School, Ringwood, Vic.
Ignite! Festival, Olympic Park, Sydney, NSW.
2000 Winner, Best Live World Act, Australian Music Foundation Awards, Melb. Vic.
Olympic Arts Festival, Hemispheres 2000, Sydney, NSW.
Queenscliff Music Festival, Queenscliff, Vic.
Support for South African Reggae band O’Yaba, Corner Hotel, Melbourne, Vic.
Perth International Arts Festival, Perth, WA.
Opening, Red Tongue Cafe, Fitzroy, Melbourne. Vic.
Ballerat Winter Festival at Banana Lounge, Ballerat, Vic.
Apollo Bay Music Festival, Apollo Bay, Vic.
1999 Studio 22 appearance, ABC TV Music Series.
Sorrento Festival, Sorrento, Vic.
Williamstown Festival, Williamstown, Vic.
Prince Patrick Hotel, Melbourne, Vic.
Central Station Hotel, Sydney, NSW.
Northcote Music Festival, Northcote, Melb. Vic.
Bellingen Global Carnival (headline act), Bellingen, NSW.
Byron Bay Music Festival, Byron Bay, NSW.
Gunnedah Music Festival + Aborigonal Conference, Gunnedah, NSW.
Queenscliff Music Festival, Queenscliff, Vic.