September 11, 2003
By Bongani Majola
AFTER nine years as a familiar feature on the Melville musical landscape, the Bassline is set to close its doors at the end of the month, albeit temporarily.
The club, home to some of the finest South African jazz musicians, will say a fond farewell to Melville by hosting, throughout September, some of the hottest jazz acts in the country. The final performance is set to take the stage on 28 September.
Over the years, the Bassline has forged close ties with the cosmopolitan Melville crowd as well as the jazz performers from around the country, and the move will be very emotional, according to musician Vusi Mahlasela. "Bassline made me," he said. "No, you made Bassline," retorted Bassline co-owner Paige Dawtrey.
"But," said Dawtrey, "this doesn't spell the end of the Bassline, only that we are moving to the Newtown Cultural Precinct." The club is moving to Newtown "to affirm it as the cultural hub of the nation", Dawtrey added. "We want to be involved in turning the precinct around."
In addition to being a live music venue, the Bassline also released Jazz at the Bassline, a CD compilation featuring recordings by the cream of the country's jazz scene, including Sipho Gumede, Louis Mhlanga and Vusi Mahlasela.
To celebrate the club's musical legacy, the Bassline is hosting a month-long festival "where all music lovers and staunch Bassline supporters can hear their favourite artists for one last time at this venue", said Dawtrey.
The programme, which kicks off with guitarist Mhlanga, includes the launch of an album by Tumi & The Volume, and performances by McCoy Mrubata, Marcus Wyatt, Andile Yenana, Moses Khumalo, Zim Ngqawana, Zenarcade, Blacklisted, Mac McKenzie, Frank Opperman and Friends, Cutting Jade and Carlo Mombelli & The Prisoners of Strange.
Mahlasela will sing the final farewell to the club on the last weekend of the month.
Performances start at 9 pm and tickets are available at the door. The Bassline is at 7, 7th Street, Melville. For more information call 011 482 6915 or visit www.basslinejazzclub.co.za.
