Ray Lema Quintet

Concert

Ray Lema Quintet

Ray Lema is a true master of musical lightness, elegance, and joy. After learning to play the organ as a teenager at a Catholic seminary, he tried his hand at the guitar while studying in Kinshasa, but he found his true calling at the piano. He explored the instrument in all its sonic diversity and nuances—from the classical repertoire to samba and Afrobeat to jazz.  

Born in the westernmost part of the Congo, Lema later spent over thirty years in exile (in Washington, Brussels, and finally Paris), yet he always kept the sounds of his homeland close to his heart. To this day, he incorporates Congolese techniques and rhythms into his piano playing and adapts, for example, the “Sebene” routine—the characteristic phrasing of Congolese rumba that forms the basis for dance and musical trance. Today, he can look back on a long-standing international career and occupies a unique position: Ray Lema’s music remains extremely accessible thanks to its apparent simplicity, while his originality effortlessly transcends genre boundaries.

Part of“Not All Travelers Follow Paths—Humanity as Practice,” 36th São Paulo Biennial, Berlin Edition.