“It is just the epidemic contagiousness of jazz that makes it sweep the block” (J. A. Rogers). Jazz has a history as fascinating as its sound. Once deemed as evil in a racist America, with roots firmly set in the slave tradition of “foolin massa”, the sound of the genre is loaded with African tradition that survived the slave ships to the Americas.
African call and response, which we recognize in church or even chimurenga songs, is deeply embedded in the genre. Jazz and blues has fascinating roots from songs like ‘Rocka by baby’ which indeed did ‘fool master’; think about it, a slave rocking a white baby on a tree and singing about the wind blowing and making the cradle fall in an oh-so-melodious voice, master walks by, thinks the baby is being lulled to sleep by a tame house “n-word” when nothing could be farther from the truth…please never sing that song to your children again readers!
The blues as well as Jazz, to some racist white individuals back in the day was spawned as the devil’s music, but to others it was simply an aesthetically appealing different sound. The group that deemed jazz the devil’s music recognised the threatening political cry for freedom and equality that is echoed by the music, whereas the group that simply enjoyed jazz as “cool black music” looked upon the black community as sating the market with quaint black frivolity packed with random scats and gyrations.
This ‘bizarre black music’ fostered consumerism by whites and light skinned people on Lenox Avenue in New York City which increased the commodification of black culture. In the group that refused to see jazz as rooted in the cry for freedom from slavery but only as entertainment, consumerism neutralises the message of protest by making music a mere commodity in an apolitical space in which dark blacks cannot enter unless they are the show (only white consumers could enter the jazz clubs such as The Cotton Club in the 1920s).
Although the history of jazz is rooted in America by way of Africa from centuries past, jazz lovers rejoice–it lives today in Harare. The local Jazz community is very much alive and crooning, every Sunday no less!
Zimbo Jam caught up with Tinashe Mukarati of the Jazz Community for a brief chat about the local movement. Sunday afternoon weekly shows have been running for almost a month now under the title ‘Jazz Basics’ with different themes and jazz styles showcased by a number of local artists.
From Abdul Ibrahim to Nina Simone, Jazz Basics has your swing and syncopation covered.
Below is our chat with Mukarati.
How did the Jazz Basics start?
The whole concept of The Zimbabwe Jazz Community is the brain child of Mr Filbert Marova, a veteran jazz pianist. He approached a few individuals, including myself, that he knew to be lovers of jazz, and asked that we help set up an organization dedicated to reviving and promoting jazz in Zimbabwe. This was about 3 months ago.
Being that we are currently not funded, the only activity we could establish that would be somewhat self-sustaining was the weekly Sunday afternoon jazz events, where artists are engaged on condition that they perform according to a set theme for a given Sunday.
How is the attendance?
Attendance has been great so far. We have some loyal lovers of jazz who come every week and we’ve constantly had new faces at each show. We are enjoying it immensely and so is our audience.
What prompted the move from Theatre in the Park to Chez Zandi?
We moved from Theatre in the Park to Chez andi’s Bistro because Theatre in the Park was under-going renovations.
How far are you going to take this movement; what can your audience look out for?
They can expect more good quality jazz on Sundays, jazz workshops and seminars for artists throughout the country as well as an annual Jazz Festival. These are just some of the programming highlights that The Zimbabwe Jazz Community has in mind
Are there staunch “jazzos” in Zimbabwe?
There certainly are and we’ve so far managed to capture the attention of some of them. There are, however, many more out there that are yet to experience the quality jazz we have on offer on Sundays and we hope to be able to attract them soon.
There has certainly been a void in the music industry as far as jazz is concerned, as such, many staunch jazzos have not had anywhere to enjoy their beloved genre. We are here to fill that void and really hope that we can draw those jazzos out to our events every Sunday and ultimately to our annual festival.
Who is your jazzspiration?
Hmmmm personally I have many, from Hugh Masekela to Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald to Sibongile Khumalo, Louis Mhlanga to George Benson, Grover Washington Jnr to Moses Khumalo…..the list is endless really!
Louis Armstrong once stated of Jazz and its spell “The spirit hits them and they follow.” Prominent psychologist, Carl Jung acknowledged the power of African music. There is a spiritualism and deep story within the tones of jazz music that can hold the listener in a thrall. Try it yourself on Sunday afternoon at Chez Zandi.
. Jazz has a history as fascinating as its sound. Once deemed as evil in a racist America, with roots firmly set in the slave tradition of “foolin massa”, the sound of the genre is loaded with African tradition...Read More){kind=link}