From cassettes and vinyl records to club jazz remixes and a passion for keeping the dance floor alive, music has been a lifelong journey for Vinay “The Jazzmaster” (real name Vinay Harry).
His musical journey began at home, growing up surrounded by the sounds his dad and uncles played regularly, including favourites such as Gino Vannelli, Earth, Wind & Fire, Steely Dan, The Crusaders, Michael Franks and Level 42.
At just six years old, his dad bought him a Walkman. That simple gift sparked a fascination with music, with Vinay soon recording and compiling his own cassettes, while developing an appreciation for different genres.
By the age of 11, another important chapter began when he attended his first nightclub and met DJ Steven Lawrence, better known as DJ Stevie B, now based in Cape Town.
DJ Stevie B became a friend and eventually trusted Vinay enough to lend him his vinyl records.
This opened the door to learning the fundamentals of DJing, including counting beats and beat matching.
Vinay’s passion for DJing soon grew and, together with his school friend Ulric Francis, better known as DJ Tappas, he would often attend gigs.
His DJ style has always been strongly influenced by his own remixes, reworks and re-edits, giving his sets a distinctive and exclusive character.
His goal is not simply to play music, but to create memories.
His sets can take people back to moments they may have forgotten, reconnecting them with the sounds of their youth while introducing fresh beats and new musical experiences.
One of the most distinctive elements of his musical identity is “Club Jazz”, a style he believes has become a signature of his sets.
That passion eventually led to him becoming the resident DJ at KuGompo’s Velvet Jazz Lounge at Latimers Landing, further establishing his reputation for blending jazz influences with sophisticated club sounds.
Another major highlight of Vinay’s musical career came through his exposure to internationally respected artists at the International Delicious Festival, hosted by DStv and Nedbank in Gauteng.
During the festival, he had the opportunity and privilege to spend a week with The Jackson 5, Arrested Development, Roy Ayers, De La Soul, Monique Bingham, Adeva and Lil Louie and his wife, Anané Vega.
For a DJ whose journey began with a Walkman and cassette recordings, being exposed to such influential artists represented a memorable milestone.
Like many music lovers who experienced KuGompo’s golden club era, Vinay watched as the city’s nightclubs gradually disappeared.
For him, this was more than the closing of venues — it felt like the end of an era. Rather than simply looking back with nostalgia, Vinay, together with fellow DJs Philip Groom, aka DJ Zeke De Freké, and Faried Kops, aka DJ Uncle Funk, have decided to do something about it.
Their vision is simple: Bring back disco.
On October 24, at the Beacon Bay Country Club, the trio will invite KuGompo fans to step back in time and experience the feeling of an era when the dance floor brought people together and music created unforgettable memories.
It will be more than a party. It will be a celebration of the music, DJs, friendships, venues and memories that helped shape the city’s entertainment culture.
For DJs Vinay, Zeke De Freké, and Uncle Funk, it is about remembering a time when people were happy, carefree and united by music.
KuGompo people, come out, show up and take the club journey with them.
