Hamptons jazz thrill
Gothataone Moeng | Monday March 17, 2014 14:33
While it was confirmed on Saturday morning by both Freshlyground and the show organisers, the Hamptons Promoters, that the Cape Town based group would not be performing, fans were incensed to learn this through the contradictory statements made by the two on their respective Facebook pages, just hours before the show was scheduled to begin.
By mid-morning, judging by the comments on the groups’ Facebook pages, many were still torn over whom to believe: had the promoters neglected to pay for the group’s flights from Cape Town to Gaborone, or was the globe-trotting award-winning musical outfit resorting to diva behaviour and refusing to be put on two different flights?
Nonetheless, the fun-starved Gaborone music lovers came out in large numbers for the show; keen for the opportunity to see maestros Hugh Masekela, Tshepho Tshola, Ndingo Johwa and Shanti Lo live in concert.
But the Hamptons Promoters failed to redeem themselves in the eyes of those still doubting them. While energetic house-kwasa musician Vee was scheduled to kick off the show at 12:00 pm, the show was nowhere ready to start by then. Instead, for over four hours, the crowd watched as the organisers went through their sound checks and prepared the stage for the show, with no apology forthcoming from the promoters.The show officially started around 5:00 pm with jazz from DJ McJon, who serenaded the crowd that was getting increasingly disgruntled.
But all was not lost, as the impressive line-up that the Hamptons Promoters had put together saved the show. From Vee’s energetic dancers, who are so skilled at getting a crowd pulled in, to Kearoma Rantao’s theatrical performance, many were quickly getting swayed in.
It was really the South African heavyweights Hugh Masekela and Tshepho Tshola, who have decades of performing between them, who saved the show. What Masekela song is not a crowd favourite? Add that to his energetic “get-down” moves and his command of his voice and you get a flawless set. From Mamoriri, to Motlalepula to his rendition of Fela Kuti’s Lady, he illustrated why is still one of South Africa’s most sought after performers. His use of percussions and wails as he performed the evocative Stimela, which tells the story of African miners working in Johannesburg, had the crowd eating out of his hand. By this time the crowd did not want him to leave the stage, to which he gently admonished “why are you so greedy?”
Tshepho Tshola, appeared after an excellent Nnunu Ramogotsi (whose Role La Tsie and Mmasonoko remain firm crowd favourites), Ndingo Johwa, who never ceases to impress with his brand of Ika-jazz as well as songbird Samantha Mogwe and her exciting youthful band who debuted a new song titled You. Tshola got up on stage singing It’s a miracle/ what God has done in my life. With a slight limp, and holding his trademark cane, it was not difficult to believe the sincerity in his voice. He took fans back with past hits such Shine your Light and Hey Ma Afrika. He also invited onstage a rather inebriated Joe Nina, who failed to rouse the crowd until the performance of his hit old Ding Dong.
The late start of the show ensured that the Tshola, who was expected to perform at 4:30 pm, ended up performing at midnight. This resulted in the cutting short of sets by performers such as crowd favourite Shanti Lo who was rushed off stage. But by this time, people were already dispersing. The last two performers Thabang and Shumba Ratshega performed to an emptying venue.