Issued by Editions Populaires in 1989, Franco et le tout puissant OK Jazz gathers five tracks from Franco Luambo Makiadi and his ensemble TPOK Jazz, stalwarts of the Congolese rumba tradition. Recorded during an era when the band was deepening its imprint on soukous and ndombolo rhythms, the album includes the extended "Mario (Non stop)" alongside compositions like "Sadou" and "Les 'on dit'." The sessions capture the group’s deft interplay and Franco’s distinctive guitar work, emblematic of Kinshasa’s vibrant musical milieu.Though modest in length, this release exemplifies the lineage of Congolese rumba as it shifted toward more dance-oriented ndombolo stylings in the late 1980s. The grooves are steady and propulsive, with vocal call-and-response patterns weaving through intricate guitar lines. Franco et le tout puissant OK Jazz remains a noteworthy artifact for collectors tracing the evolution of African dance music beyond its initial postcolonial flowering.

Issued by Editions Populaires in 1989, Franco et le tout puissant OK Jazz gathers five tracks from Franco Luambo Makiadi and his ensemble TPOK Jazz, stalwarts of the Congolese rumba tradition. Recorded during an era when the band was deepening its imprint on soukous and ndombolo rhythms, the album includes the extended "Mario (Non stop)" alongside compositions like "Sadou" and "Les 'on dit'." The sessions capture the group’s deft interplay and Franco’s distinctive guitar work, emblematic of Kinshasa’s vibrant musical milieu.Though modest in length, this release exemplifies the lineage of Congolese rumba as it shifted toward more dance-oriented ndombolo stylings in the late 1980s. The grooves are steady and propulsive, with vocal call-and-response patterns weaving through intricate guitar lines. Franco et le tout puissant OK Jazz remains a noteworthy artifact for collectors tracing the evolution of African dance music beyond its initial postcolonial flowering.