June 13, 2009.

Friday nights are the most hectic and are suitably dubbed "Dada's Day Out".

The Usual Place is unusual in that it is one of the freshest jazz venues in Harare. It exudes maturity and class, perhaps not at all like the legendary New York nightclub called Minton's where Bebop was born, with such jazz "greats" as Charlie "Bird" Parker, Miles Davis, Theolonius Monk, Dizzy Gillespie and others "jamming" regularly.

Minton's was probably not as classy or as status-filled at The Usual Place, a jazz joint which, nonetheless is frequented by people who can be said to "have arrived".

There is a jovial mood and, perhaps appropriately "jokes by the yard" hit you from every angle of the bar. A great number of the patrons are on first-name intimacy.

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Unfortunately on the night of my maiden visit, Bob Nyabinde "The Headmaster", billed as the jazz attraction had not pitched up, yet it was long after the scheduled start of his show.

But when the entertainer shows up, he is greeted as a regular patron. He bows and imitates the royal wave as an appreciation of his red carpet welcome.

The dress code here is strictly smart-casual and a "No Under 21" notice signifies a prudent age restriction.

The bar was initially called The Pit Bar due to its rare sunken structure. Patrons dropped a few steps below ground level in the Jazz Pit. This name was later dropped for The Usual Place, which then became the Afro-Jazz Bar after it adopted an African motif, complete with live Afro-jazz bands..

The Usual Place is decorated inside with oil portraits on canvas and wire ornaments, some denoting jazz music-ware telling the music genre's story .

This unique acquisition emphasises the jazz and cultural inclination that imbues the bar.

In fact, the decor serves to Zimbabwean culture. Instruments like mbira and ngoma (the traditional African drum) are still in use at cultural functions around the country and remain a fascinating sight for tourists and natives alike.

At the Usual Place's bar, the ambience is intimidating when you first walk in, but the service is worth braving the intimidation.

The lighting is adjustable to suit different moods and the air conditioning makes you feel comfortable that your designer suits won't get all smoky.

The Usual Place can easily accommodate about 70 patrons. As an executive bar, right of admission is reserved.

Comfortable cushioned bar stools, sofas and padded armchairs are available to cater for different seating preferences.

The stage is distinctly elevated and patrons do not have to huddle to the front to catch a glimpse of the band performances.

Above the stage is a large state-of-the-art plasma wall television set that usually broadcasts sport.

Smaller TV sets are planted in strategic places where patrons seeking fun other than sport might opt for world news, drama or the odd horror movie.

A well-stocked bar caters for most liquor needs.Wines, whisky other spirits, lagers through and ciders are in plentiful supply..

Well, eventually Bob did come and did his thing as he knows how. He opened the show with a familiar track, Pane Nyaya, which seemed to be his apology: something had happened to delay his arrival. It was surely a splendid night and a good time was had by all jazz patrons.

But The Usual Place not only shines at the night. During the day, the bar makes a definite reception for A class pub lunches. The serene and upper-class environment is conducive to intimate business palaver, and the food, though good and catered by the hotel's room service is very affordable.

With the chilly season upon us, I want to believe in-house entertainment is the better option. Very soon, with the windier July nearby, it might not really be a wise plan to knock knees in an open air joint.