The Gathering: Roots & Branches of Los Angeles Jazz was started in 2005 by composer, multi-instrumentalist, and early bandleader in the Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra Jesse Sharps, while he was working on the archive of the music from the Arkestra. In October of 2005 Jesse brought together members of the Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra with local legends, and up-and-coming young players for a historic recording session and summit tied into the music and community surrounding the Arkestra and Leimert Park, the hub for Black arts and culture in Los Angeles. From this event emerged a multi-generational music project with a rotating band that has appeared at numerous festivals and shows, a documentary film that chronicles the project, and numerous recordings including the recently released “Healing Suite.”

The Los Angeles Composers of the Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra is the current project of The Gathering. The mission of the project is to complete and secure the archive of the community composers of the Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra, and to record select pieces from that archive, including The Ghetto Suite by Horace Tapscott, and In Times Like These by Lester Robertson. 2021 marks the 60th anniversary of Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra, which was founded in 1961 by Horace Tapscott and has seen numerous generations of musicians come through the group over the years. Panafrikanpeoplesarkestra

The Gathering has partnered with Soul Force Project (soulforceproject.com), a non-profit that promotes social justice through global music and the arts. We are actively seeking sponsorship,donations, support, and collaboration. Please contact Jesse Sharps or Fundi Legohn on the contact page for more info and to find out ways to help out. Bright Moments!