For a long time all Bloemfontein could offer was lots of vleis, rugby and the sound of veldskoene on its pristine pavements . Being black was no fun in this town in the province where you weren’t allowed to take a leak.
But Mangaung, as it was called before the right-wing trekked in, is losing its hick image. And in this new era some are flourishing – like businessman Russel Murison, owner of Moods & Flavors, South Africa’s best kept jazz secret.
As you enter Moods & Flavors, you immediately feel the aura of jazz. The walls are adorned with paintings by the proprietor’s 21-year-old son, Carlo, depicting jazz legends like Dexter Gordon and Denis Mpale, who played there in March, just months before he died.
On October 30, Moods & Flavors celebrated their first anniversary in style. The club imported one of the finest exponents of jazz, Iconoclast, and the well-dressed, bejeweled set came out in force. They were served dumplings, pap, fish, morogo, salads and, of course, vleis while Iconoclast dished out mellow, musical soul food. Radio Metro jazz presenter Mesh Mapetla was the master of ceremonies.
Last weekend the jazz community descended on Bloemfontein for the Standard Bank Jazz Festival – a long overdue acknowledgment that there are jazz fans in the Free State. The show was staged at Loch Logan ”island”, a ”waterfront” development in middle of the city.
The line-up was headed by Hugh Masekela and included Kutu and local heroes Thari. While the organisers should be applauded, they need to reintroduce the founders of jazz to its core audience by inviting artists like Mankunku Ngozi or Pat Matshikiza to future festivals. There are a wide variety of jazz musicians in the country to tap into – a stated intention of the sponsors.
Others on the bill were piano sensations Moses Taiwa Molelekwa and Paul Hanmer, and singer Gloria Bosman. She was not at her best in this gig. The material she chose to perform didn’t suit her great voice. If ever proof was needed why Bosman should have a full-time jazz career, this was it. Jazz requires total commitment.
The Standard Bank Jazz Festival revealed a huge following for jazz in Bloemfontein, and other groups should take advantage of this often ignored market. For this, the Standard Bank and their organisers, at any rate, deserve a pat on the back.