OK Jazz (later TPOK Jazz, standing for Tout Pouissant 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 African Jazz. Many musical stars emerged from one or both of these bands.
Personnel
- Jean Serge Essous : clarinetist and saxophonist
- Mose Fan Fan
- Josky Kiambukuta Londa : singer and composer, also of Orchestre Continentale and Africa Fiesta
- Biallu Madilu : singer and composer, also of Afrisa
- Franco Luambo Makiadi, guitarist
- Sam Mangwana (known as La Pigeon Voyageur): singer, also of Festival Macquisards
- Zitani Dalienst Ya Ntesa : singer and composer, also of Vox Africa and Festival de Macquisards
- Lutumba Massiya Simarro (known as Le Grande Poette): guitarist and composer, joined in 1963, also of Orchestre Micra
- Mavatiku Visi (known as Michelino): guitarist, also of Afrisa International
