Swinging Jazz and South African sounds captivated the audience in a mid-week performance, on Wednesday 16 August, during this year’s Reunion Week Festival at the South African College School (SACS) in Newlands.
SACS, in partnership with Infiniti Insurance and Lyall Morgan Brokers, hosted this year’s SACS Old Boys Big Band Bash as part of the 2023 Reunion Week festival.
The audience was captivated by the voluptuous sounds of trumpets, saxophones and clarinets in which the rhythm and beat was carried by a full drum set and bass guitar, also featuring vocalist Amy Campbell at SACS’ Junior School Hall.
The fifth edition of the event promised and delivered a wonderful evening of big band music, with the band members coming from far and wide to play together just for this event, comprising mainly of SACS Old Boys with some special guests expertly led by Dan Shout.
Shout is a respected, internationally sought-after saxophonist based in the Mother City.
He has performed and/or recorded in over 30 countries across five continents with the likes of Johnny Clegg, Mike Campbell, Darryl Andrews, Winston Mankunku, Gordon Vernick, AJ Brown, Per Thornberg, Nils Landgren, Paul Booth, Dave O’Higgins, Steve Waterman, Alan Barnes and Jean-Marie Ecay to name a few.
Some of his career highlights include performing at the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival in Ireland, the Montreal Jazz Festival (Canada), Rugby World Cup (France), Nelson Mandela’s 46664 Concert at Ellis Park (Johannesburg), for the Prince & Princess at the Monaco Opera House (Monaco) and Johnny Clegg’s The Crossing with the DHL Stormers & Friends.
In addressing the audience, Shout introduced the soloists following their shining performances and detailing their active careers in the music industry. “These performers, ladies and gentlemen, are a true testament to the fine and immense quality of education and musical training they receive at SACS,” Shout proudly boasted on stage.
