I love live music, especially jazz. But I rarely attend live music events because they’re usually at night and I’ve become dreadfully boring after dark. And when I do go to see live music, I rarely blog about it (the last time I remember doing this was the Sawubona Music Jam in 2024), because documenting nighttime entertainment requires a whole extra level of motivation.

But when Hugh’s Jazz Club opened in Braamfontein a few months ago, I knew this was a live music event that I needed to experience and blog about. I finally got my chance last Thursday.

Outside Hugh's Jazz Club on De Korte Street in Braamfontein.

Between the velvet ropes outside Hugh’s Jazz Club on De Beer Street in Braamfontein. Hugh’s describes its dress code as “your version of black tie”, but I noticed a wide range of outfits — from business attire to glam.

Hugh’s, named for South African jazz legend Hugh Masekala, is a fancy jazz bar at the top of a building near the corner of De Beer and Juta Streets. Hugh’s is currently open only one night each week, on Thursdays, which adds to the excitement around each performance.

Pulling up in my Uber, I felt an immediate thrill. As I walked up the red carpet, I realized I was going to have a Big Night Out.

Looking out over De Beer Street, with the historic Kitcheners bar across the road, at nightfall.

Inside Hugh’s Jazz Club

Hugh’s is on the 13th floor of 10 De Beer Street, overlooking Mandela Bridge and the famous “The Purple Shall Govern” mural by Shepard Fairey. There could not be a better location for this club, and the designers have created an opulent interior to match the fabulous views.

The lobby at Hugh's with one of Hugh's trumpets on display.

The Hugh’s lobby.

An iconic photo of Hugh Masekela by Alf Kumalo.

A sea of red velvet inside Hugh’s Jazz Club.

I arrived promptly when the doors opened, at 6 p.m., in hopes of getting some shots of the view before it was totally dark outside. Unfortunately the lights on Mandela Bridge hadn’t come on yet.

View of the bridge when it finally lit up.

Hugh’s has different types of tables/seating options, for one person (at the bar) to eight people (in the booths along the sides). My group had one of the side booths. Ticket prices range from R300 ($18) for a bar seat to R750 ($45) for a seat on the couch up front.

The room was completely full by the time the music started at 7:30 p.m.

Thanks to (left to right) John, Alicia, Nina, Lavinia, Fabian, Julie, and Diana for joining me on this Big Night Out. We had so much fun! Also thanks to Bheki, our server, for taking many great photos and videos of our table.

Hugh’s has a full food and drinks menu with reasonable prices for a mid-range/high-end restaurant. I only had a snack — fried pickles — and it was delicious. Everyone at my table enjoyed their food.

Quick tip: During the show’s intermission I recommend going upstairs to the building’s rooftop, which doubles as a basketball court.

Basketball court on the rooftop above Hugh's.

Hanging out on a basketball court in the sky.

The Performance

The night’s performance featured Siphokazi, a popular South African singer who I’m embarrassed to admit I hadn’t heard of before this. Siphokazi’s music doesn’t fit neatly into a single genre; the Hugh’s website describes it as “Afro-fusion” and moving “between African traditional music, jazz, soul and contemporary sound”. I would describe Siphokazi’s music as iconically South African. You can watch the music video for one of her most popular songs, Amacala, on Youtube.

Many of the people in the audience knew the words to Siphokazi’s songs and sang along with her. Everyone in our group loved the show — I didn’t want it to end.

Siphokazi singing with her bass player and backup singer in the background.

Queen Siphokazi, bedecked in white and gold. Her bass player, Galli Ngoveni (left), and her backup singer, Ntlantla Swana Yaze (right), were my favorite members of the band (although they were all fantastic).

Siphokazi and keyboard player Tshepo Monareng.

Siphokazi singing in an emerald-green dress

She changed outfits at half-time.

Watching Siphokazi at Hugh’s was the perfect Big Night Out in Joburg — it made me feel like part of the city in a way that I haven’t for a while. I can’t recommend Hugh’s enough and I can’t wait to go back.