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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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) |
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| 2011 | Dancehouse, Carlton, Vic. |
| 2010 | Dancehouse, Carlton, 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. |
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| 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. |
