OK Jazz, later renamed TPOK Jazz (short for Tout Puissant Orchestre Kinshasa, "all-powerful Kinshasa orchestra"), was a Congolese rumba band from the Democratic Republic of the Congo established in 1956 and fronted by Franco. The group disbanded in 1993, but begin again in 1996. The OK Jazz band was formed in 1956 in Léopoldville (now Kinshasa), in what was at the time the Belgian Congo (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo). At one time in the late 1970s and early 1980s the band grew to more than fifty members. During that period, it often split into two groups; one group stayed in Kinshasa, playing in nightclubs there, while the other group toured in Africa, Europe and North America.
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Links to Peel[]
As a fan of soukous music, Peel played many acts from the genre including TPOK Jazz, whose material got played by the DJ in the 80's and 90's. By the time the 00's came, Peel rarely played much of the music.
Shows Played[]
TPOK Jazz- Zena Mama na Lolita (Lola Checain) 1988
- 1983
- 29 June 1983: Munsi Part 1 (7" - Munsi Parts 1 & 2) ASL
- 1992
- 08 March 1992: unknown
- 02 May 1992: Zena Mama Na Lolita (album - Somo!) Tamaris
- 20 June 1992: Mokili Mbanga Ya Taba (12", Album: Somo) Tamaris
- 06 July 1992 (Ö3): 'Zena Mama Na Lolita (LP-Somo)' (Sonod)