Boleseng thrills F/town revellers

GALE NGAKANE
Correspondent | Wednesday September 15, 2010 00:00

 

It was an uncharacteristically chilly Saturday evening after a week of hot weather in Francistown, but it did not deter jazz lovers who came in droves, to part with the asking price of P50 at the door to watch Boleseng and the new kid on the block, Fane, who was releasing his debut album at Thapama Hotel.

Inside the open-air hall, at the outset, lovers and friends huddled together to keep the chill at bay.  But when he took to the stage, playing two numbers from his album, which should be out early next year, the place started thawing up.  One song that had revellers standing up to do a tango was Ke Swa Hela (Dying With Love) in which a suitor describes his prospective lover in detail, especially the facial features that make her a beauty to behold.

Then there was Nkinela Diatla Metsing (Forgive Me), which also is a masterpiece on its own.  He kicked off the show with an instrumental Boteti and afterwards he told this writer of the fact that he grew up in Rakops where he did his primary school. 'I was raised by my grandmother in Rakops.  I have been trying to get to the place so many times, but I have always failed. 

But the place never goes away from my mind.'That's why I came up with the instrumental - to remind myself of my obligations to one day visit the village,' he said with a trace of nostalgia. 

It was, however, songs from the old album, Maikutlo A Lorato, which had the whole place in a dancing mood. Boleseng punctuated his singing with sexy chants that had lovers swooning and holding each other firmly. After his rendition, Boleseng introduced his protg, Fane whom he said though he was still a novice has what it takes to blow the revellers away with songs from his I Am album.  Fani obliged, delving into the first song Mofufutso with gusto. But it was the second song Chomie which was well received because of its catchy beat that blended well with his sax.

Other songs from the album recorded at Mud Hut Studios in Gaborone are Kgokgontsho, Lenyalo, Wishes, As Sweet As Always, Selebatso and Mme Nthome.  Simple Creative Advertising Agency did the album sleeve, depicting a silhouette of a cow with the rising sun in the background.  It (the album sleeve) bears the pictures of a smiling Fane shouldering his tool of trade, the saxophone.

The Saturday gig dubbed 'Afro Jazz Giants' was promoted by Soares Katumbela of Street Horn and it all started in Serowe on August 27 at Pat Kay Jazz Pub, moving on to Millennium Jazz Restaurant in Mogoditshane two days later. Medupe Band backed the two jazz musos.