TPOK Jazz
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
TPOK Jazz, short for Tout Puissant Orchestre Kinshasa, literally meaning "the all-powerful Kinshasa band" in French, originally known as OK Jazz, was a Congolese rumba band, founded by Jean Serge Essous and Francois Luambo Makiadi in the 1950s. The original name, OK Jazz, comes from a Kinshasa bar called the OK Bar named after the bar's proprietor "Oscar Kashama"[citation needed], but is also been said to refer to Orchestre Kinois[citation needed].
OK Jazz quickly became one of the two giants of Congolese popular music in the mid-20th century, along with Grand Kalle & l'African Jazz. Many musical stars emerged from one or both of these bands.
[edit] Personnel
- Franco Luambo Makiadi, band leader, lead vocalist, guitarist
- Jean Serge Essous: clarinetist and saxophonist
- Mose Fan Fan
- Josky Kiambukuta Londa: singer and composer, also of Orchestre Continentale and African Fiesta
- Biallu Madilu: singer and composer, also of Afrisa International
- Sam Mangwana (known as Le Pigeon Voyageur): singer, also of Festival de Macquisards
- Zitani Dalienst Ya Ntesa: singer and composer, also of Vox Africa and Festival de Macquisards
- Lutumba Massiya Simarro (known as Le Grand Poete): guitarist and composer, joined in 1963, also of Orchestre Micra
- Mavatiku Visi (known as Michelino): guitarist, also of Afrisa Internationale
- Djo Mpoyi Kanda: singer and composer
