OK Jazz
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OK Jazz (later TPOK Jazz, short for Tout Puissant Orchestre Kinshasa) 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 bar called the OK Bar, but has also been said to refer to Orchestre Kinois. 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. The original name actually came from "Oscar Kashama", the owner of the bar. He invited Francois Makiadi to be a regular performer in his night club, exposing the band for the first time to the public. He named the band "Oscar Kashama Jazz", hence, OK Jazz.
[edit] Personnel
- 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
- Franco Luambo Makiadi, guitarist
- 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
