Satchmo's Jazz Cafe revamped

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Thursday March 11, 2010 00:00

The bar has been pushed next to the entrance where the stage used to be. Even the seating arrangement in the club has been changed. This development has created more space in the club.

The club is no longer smoke filled because there is an outlet for smokers on the balcony. 

Since the club was opened, the owners of the place have been renovating the joint on a regular basis. 

Last weekend, the club featured one of the renowned jazz men, DJ Milton who is based in Mochudi.  DJ Milton used to be with the Street Horn jazz stable.  He and DJ SK in fact used to perform at Satchmo's during the club's initial days. 

This weekend, Satchmo's will be presenting DJ Prince Dingalo who has also performed at the joint before.   In the past, Satchmo's used to feature live entertainment by both South African and local artists.  They included the late Duncan Senyatso and Afro jazz diva, Punah Gabasiane.  Shanti-Lo and Lister Boleseng also used to stage shows at the venue.  Banjo Mosele has also done gigs at Satchmo's as well as Stampore.  South African artists who have performed at Satchmo's include Loius Mhlanga and Sipho 'Hot Stix' Mabuse.  But the club stopped to stage live shows after government slashed nightclubs' operating hours.

Since the stringent liquor regulations came into effect, Satchmo's could only operate at weekends.

But club owners now intend to start operating during the week as well.

Dingalo said he would be playing at the club for three days from Tuesdays to Thursdays.  He said on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, they would be playing jazz.  But on Thursdays, it would be old school music.  He said during the week, they would be selling beverages at the normal bar prices.  During weekends, the entrance fee would be reduced before 11 pm.  Patrons who come before 11 pm would pay P20, but after that the entrance fee would be P30.  The restaurant, which is adjacent to the club, operates throughout the week.

Meanwhile, the Lobatse nightclub, which is also owned by Steve Raman, will be re-launched on Saturday.  The club, which had been operating as Nosey Road, has been renamed, Ozone.  The managers of the club said there are various activities lined-up for that day.

Ozone was the name of the club that Raman used to run in Tlokweng before it was gutted by fire in 2008.