On Friday the 13th of October, Stellenbosch was turned into a native yard.
These were the words echoed by GUS curator, Valeria Geselev, after indulging in a wholesome performance by saxophonist and flutist McCoy Mrubata and his band.
Being an amateur jazz fan, I decided to trade in Friday night pyjama DMCs with my roommate for a more social night out at the GUS with a friend. Valeria’s words fully capture the essence of what ensued that night.
A collaborative effort between Jazz in the Native Yards and the GUS, this event coincided with the SU’s jewellery design students’ exhibition. It drew in myriad of people; your hipsters, aesthetes and lest we forget to mention those who couldn’t resist missing an opportunity to sip on some free wine- it was a Friday evening after all.
I arrived shortly before the band was about to perform, so I had a few minutes to appreciate the jewellery and to absorb the energies present in that space – one is seldom fortunate enough to find such spaces in Stellenbosch, so we revel while we can.
Mr Mrubata and his band had us tapping our feet and bopping along from the first bar. By the third song, a dance circle had already formed. The band also made a genuine effort to engage with the crowd and explain the reason behind each song that was performed. The highlight, however, was the impeccable solos with Frank Paco, the drummer, being my personal favourite.
I know almost as much about music as I do about driving – very little. But from the little that I do know, I can safely say that the various sub genres belonging to the umbrella genre of African Jazz really elicited some nostalgia; having grown up in a family where African Jazz is as essential as water, Mrubata’s tunes sounded very similar to the soundtrack that accompanies a lot of the montages of my childhood memories.
Events like this create an atmosphere that supersedes the harsh realities of Stellenbosch. They foster a wonderful, safe space where people come together and appreciate various crafts. The GUS, on Dorp Street, is also an accessible venue in terms of transport and many of the events hosted there, like this one, are free of charge. I strongly recommend keeping an eye out for the next event at GUS, bless yourself with an enjoyable time – chances that you’ll be riding a great wave by the time you leave are quite high.