LACPAPA

The Los Angeles Composers of the Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra is the current project of The Gathering: Roots & Branches of Los Angeles Jazz under the leadership of Jesse Sharps, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and early bandleader in the Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra. 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. All profits from the purchase of the first ever vinyl release of Jesse Sharps Wu Ensemble will go directly towards the funding of the session (link below on album cover). Please contact Jesse Sharps or Fundi Legohn on the contact page for more info and to find out ways to help out. Bright Moments!