Bassline first opened its doors as a live
music venue in 1994, providing platform for South Africa’s finest jazz acts
to showcase their craft, in the Melville suburb (Johannesburg). The venue then closed
down in 2003 and was re-opened in 2004 in the arts and cultural precint of
Newtown.
This year Bassline celebrates its 20th
anniversary at their renovated Newtown venue, with some of the décor taken from
the original venue in Melville. What caught my eye was the innovative drum-kit chandelier
in the centre of the room, and the general décor on the walls, which add to the
magic once the lights are dimmed and the music starts.
As part of their celebrations, Bassline
will be running a series of jazz performances for the next six weeks, with a
stellar line-up of artists who polished their craft on the old Bassline stage
over the years. The series kicked off with master bassist Herbie Tsoaeli and
his African Time Quartet on the 25th of July, and will feature Paul
Hanmer, Musa Manzini, Tlale Makhene, McCoy Mrubata and Lucas Senyatso,
in the subsequent 5 weeks.
For more details on the series, and other
shows at Bassline, you ca visit their website : http://www.bassline.co.za
African Time Quartet on the end of the opening night of the Red Hot Jazz Nights
Talented pianist, Nduduzo Makhathini
