TPOK Jazz

EN Texto em inglês Ainda não há artigo no seu idioma: trecho em inglês.

OK Jazz, later renamed TPOK Jazz (short for Tout Puissant Orchestre Kinois de Jazz), was a Congolese rumba band from the Democratic Republic of the Congo established in 1956 and fronted by Franco. After Franco died in 1989, Simaro Lutumba, the band's vice-president and principal songwriter, became the bandleader. Initially, TPOK Jazz continued their activities with little interruption, as Lutumba had previously been responsible for administrative duties and had overseen the Kinshasa branch of the band when Franco was based in Europe. However, in 1993, disputes emerged between the musicians and Franco's family concerning the division of income and ownership of the band's instruments. Lutumba indicated that the family sought a 60–40 revenue apportionment in their favor, a proposal that the musicians rejected. Additional disputes emerged over claims that performances were being organized without the family's consent, which prompted efforts to repossess the instruments for tighter supervision. An ultimatum issued to Lutumba ultimately led to his resignation, and most of the members followed him to create Bana OK under his leadership. Franco's son, Yves Emongo Luambo, later attempted to restore TPOK Jazz by recruiting former members Youlou Mabiala and Michel Boyibanda to head the revival. Although both initially acquiesced, Boyibanda subsequently recanted, reportedly due to leadership-related dissensions. Mabiala continued with the initiative and officially reinstated TPOK Jazz on 24 December 1996. Musicologist Clément Ossinondé notes that this revived version of the band had become inactive by August 2004.