Schools’ jazz musicians give great performance

The young musicians from Cornwall Hill College Big Band, Johannesburg Youth Jazz Ensemble, King David Jazz Band, Pridwin P’zaaz Jazz Band, St Albans College Big Band and the East London-based Stirling High Big Band kept the jazz lovers’ feet tapping. People from different areas, young and old showed their appreciation as the school’s George Bizos Hall was almost full.

According to the organiser Ann Barr the festival was not a competition but was meant to showcase the talents of the next generation of big band jazz musicians, and feature jazz bands from schools and colleges. “It’s a fun thing to get kids together especially big bands to play and make friends. “I was impressed by the groups’ performances especially the Cornwall Hill College Big Band because they were only formed about a year ago, overall the festival was magnificent.”

King David Jazz Band director Dave Holland said he enjoyed himself and was happy with his group’s performance at the festival. Holland said, “It’s fantastic, I am glad about the kids showcasing their great talents, it’s also a nice opportunity to experience music from other schools as it’s not easy to hear youth jazz music from other parts.” The festival had been sponsored by the Samro Foundation, the corporate social investment arm of the Southern African Music Rights Organisation.

The foundation’s executive general manager André le Roux said they needed more pupils to be playing and appreciating South African music, especially when they start at an early age. Le Roux said, “We believe it is critically important that our nation’s young people are exposed to the sonic exuberance of big-band music, since jazz is such a central part of our musical heritage and is a dynamic genre that is constantly shifting, renewing and reinventing itself.

He said they had no hesitation in backing this trailblazing festival as they were convinced that, it would enable budding high school and community musicians to reach for the stars and shine.