PLANET JAZZ: Jazz great, double bass legend, Herbie Tsoaeli rehearses for his performance at The Orbit. The new Braamfontein hotspot is the perfect night out for jazz music lovers. Photo: Tendai Dube
THE ORBIT, a sleek new jazz club and bistro, stands out with its frosted glass and bright green wall from the surrounding concrete and face-brick of the neighbouring Braamfontein buildings.
As you approach The Orbit’s transparent doors, you are lured in by the out-of-place music amidst the sound of midday traffic.
[pullquote]”The Orbit is devoted to contributing to the development and refurbishment of the performing arts.”[/pullquote]
Three lovers of jazz music conceived the concept of a jazz club in the middle of the city. Aymeric Péguillan, Dan Sermand and Kevin Naidoo said they wanted to create a platform for creative expression for jazz musicians in Johannesburg.
The Orbit is devoted to contributing to the development and refurbishment of the performing arts in Johannesburg and has entered a partnership with the University of Witwaterand’s music department.
The collaboration will see Wits music students being invited to perform during lunchtime sessions every day. “The Orbit is not just about showcasing professional established musicians. It’s also about giving a chance to young artists to display their talents in a proper professional environment,” Péguillan said. Wits music students will be performing everyday during lunchtime. ‘Jam Sessions’ hosted on Tuesday nights at the club with an entrance fee of R40 is part of The Orbit’s plan to appeal to students.
“We loved the idea of jazz in the city. [Jazz] draws its influences from the pulse of the city,” Péguillan said explaining the choice of Braamfontein as their location. “It has this very interesting mix of people.” The Orbit hopes to reestablish the concept of a permanent venue for people to listen to jazz music instead of waiting for events.
As you cross the threshold and enter the club, you are engulfed in the romance and warmth of the wood, leather and glass-themed venue. True lovers of the genre surround the stage and absorb the instrumentals in a room with the ambience of a family room with a fireplace.
The Orbit is located on 81 De Korte street, the former venue of the Puma Social Club, and is open from 11.30am from Tuesday to Sunday. The venue can seat about 200 people in the theatre upstairs, and 100 in the restaurant downstairs where the live lunchtime performances will take place.
