SHOW: Ode To The Masters - Something had to be done.

ARTIST: Khethi Ntshangase
VENUE: Hyatt Regency

The subtle dissonance of conversation was disturbing the soulful cadence of jazz hymns being sung on stage by vocalist Khethi Ntshangase.

Mumbles of “lack of jazz education” by discerning listeners bemoaning people holding conversations in the middle of performances could be heard in whispers.

Realising this, Ntshangase took the microphone and left the stage,  heading straight to the philistines, singing all the while. They had no choice but to pay attention to his harmonies.

 Summertime, a standard by composer George Gershwin, opened proceedings at the monthly Ode To The  Masters jazz session at the Hyatt Regency in Rosebank.

Ntshangase highlighted her intentions with a wonderful interpretation of the song, while retaining its  broody charm. Her band was subtle and remained conservative early on.

 She brought things back to the Republic with Letta Mblulu’s Music In The Air, which piqued the interest of the audience who listened more intently. 

Her first stroke of genius, however, was  Laku Tshoni Illanga, composed by Mackay Davashe and popularised by Miriam Makeba.

The crowd had probably thought they were in for a mellow night, but Ntshangase mixed it up by incorporating Sam Cooke’s You Send Me with Davashe’s composition to great effect, marrying the two.

Then it was time to take it to church with some gospel numbers. 

This monthly event has been designed to provide a platform and a space for jazz artists to perform at and is targeted at jazz connoisseurs, as well as seeking to introduce the “upwardly mobile” to the art form.

After an interval, Ntshangase returned to the stage with more energy and spent most of the show on the floor with the audience.

The tempo was more upbeat, with the entire room enthralled by the music and performance.