VRYHEID: AbaQulusi re-launches jazz club

Lolo Madonsela
Local jazz lovers and appreciators can now enjoy having their own jazz club and also get to interact with other jazz clubs throughout the country.
Jazz maestro Bheki Mdletshe of Ukhozi FM, who is also the interim chairperson of the KZN Jazz Association (KZNJA), graced the re-launch of Busi Mhlongo Jazz Club (BMJC) at Shenge Village on Thursday. He was in the company of Bali Nxumalo, who is also in the KZNJA interim committee and chairperson of the Midlands Region Jazz Association.
BMJC existed some years ago under the Midlands Region and due to restructuring of the borders, it then fell under Zululand. However, it could no longer be active, hence the re-launch last week.
According to Nxumalo, the mission to re-launch all jazz clubs in the Zululand Region began early this year before lockdown, with Pongola being the first one to re-launch and AbaQulusi this past week. Soon to follow will be eDumbe, Ulundi and Nongoma.
Mdletshe said there is a great need to revive the clubs in all six regions, as KZN was left behind in having a provincial jazz club association.

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Jazz clubs primarily focus on live jazz performances, as well as strictly jazz DJs, learning about the musical culture of this genre and promoting it throughout all ages, genders and races.
Mdletshe agreed that some event organisers will misuse the “jazz festival” term, which has a negative effect on those who are staunch supporters and lovers of the genre. “We’ve seen some organisers hosting a music festival that they call “jazz” but is not. That is why we need to ensure that, as organisers, when we promise people jazz music, we bring them exactly that. Our clubs also need to educate people about this; even government needs to take part in this and ensure that when they say they are funding a jazz festival, it is indeed a jazz festival.
“This is not going to be easy and we will not say we will fight those who use jazz as a way of attracting patrons to their music festivals, but all we can do is encourage and educate people about this,” said Mdletshe.
Talking about his love for jazz, Mdletshe said it has taught him discipline and respect, and that jazz gave birth to all the other genres.
“People who have studied jazz have the basics of music and they can apply it across any genre. You look at musicians like Black Coffee and Zakes Batwini, to name but a couple who are doing so well in their preferred genres because they have the basics that they learnt from jazz music training,” he said.
He encourages youngsters to be part of jazz clubs: “What is nice about jazz clubs is that they help you understand and grow within the genre. Clubs are like the voice of jazz and the youth should form part of these clubs in order for them to not just enjoy but also learn. Jazz is not for the elderly only, but for everyone.”
BMJC chairperson Churchill Sibanyoni says the reason they chose to name the club after this music legend is that, “Mam’ Busi Mhlongo was one of us. She was born in Nongoma; she was part of us; she pushed jazz for us. Musicians like Simphiwe Danna and Siphokazi are some of the artists who drew their inspiration from her. Naming our club Busi Mhlongo was our way of honouring her and we need to ensure that this club does not fail, otherwise we would have not done justice in honouring her legacy.” BMJC was confirmed as legal, with a proper constitution, and the executive members are Busi Thusini, Bongani Mthembu, Ntombi Masondo, Sipho Zulu, Dumisani Nxele, Kenny Mlotshwa, Mjekejeke Khumalo and Thabisile Lushaba.

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